Obama: Hello Facebook, I Finally Have a Personal Page

"Hello Facebook! I finally have a personal page!" This is the first sentence from one of the newest users of Facebook, who introduces himself as: father, husband, and the 44th President of the United States. Barack Obama has finally joined the billion-user community of Facebook. Of course, Obama's campaign in 2008 and 2012 used Facebook as one of the main ways to communicate with voters and organize various fundraising events. The White House also has a specific page on Facebook. However, Barack Obama's personal page, like his Twitter account, serves as a place for a somewhat more intimate connection with audiences. In his first post on Facebook, Obama states: "I hope you view this page as a place for a real conversation about the most important issues facing our country. A place where you can hear directly from me." This does not mean that Obama himself tweets or posts new content on his Facebook page between meetings with world leaders or cabinet members. According to the New York Times, a team of twenty people at the White House manages the President's various social media accounts. The first post on the Facebook page of the U.S. presidency is a two-minute video recorded in the West Wing of the White House, which Obama refers to as his "backyard." This yard is considered one of America's national parks and even has a fox living in it. However, Obama does not just limit himself to showing his backyard in this video. The first Facebook message from the U.S. presidency addresses the issue of climate change. "I want to make sure that the beauty of this national park, and all the other parks in our country, as well as around the world, is preserved for Malia, Sasha, their children, and grandchildren, and for generations to come." Malia and Sasha are Obama's 17 and 14-year-old daughters.