The FDA, like most other government agencies, has moved past its previous reticence and launched fully into the world of social media. The FDA now has a Facebook page, multiple Twitter accounts, a YouTube channel and Flickr account, linking to each of them from every page on its voluminous website. The fact that a government agency would embrace social networking tools created by a horde of tech-savvy 20-somethings from California is stunning in and of itself, but what’s even more stunning is the venom and vitriol unleashed at the FDA via public Facebook comments on the official FDA page.
“The FDA has no right to exist”
The FDA’s Facebook page is much like any large organizational social media page. It has basic bio information filled out, includes it’s official logo and then posts content from it’s website or other news it has generated. There’s nothing out of the ordinary regarding what the FDA is posting, it’s a standard news feed with no personal interaction. Things get interesting however when one begins reading the remarks for each post or the comments users have posted on the page. The tone is caustic, the issues specific and quantity frequent. Below are some excerpts:
“The FDA has no right to exist. It does nothing to actually help anyone except big corporate farms, and your own coffers. When you can tell me I have no right to obtain the food I eat, and chose which foods I eat, then I may as well allow you to tell me when I am required to take a breath, or take a dump…”
– Marcia
“We will take you all down with our Vote! I will choose whatever alternative medication I need with or without your appoval for my quality of life. This is my right as a Legal Law Abiding Tax Paying American Citizen…”. [sic]
– Jeanne
“Americans need to rise up and get rid of this Unconstitutional dictatorial agency whose in bed with the drug companies and other corporations…”
– John
Why So Angry America?
The total number of exclamation points appearing in comments by users in posts from July to December 2012 were 748. That’s a high degree of social weight, a phenomenon that arises during times of extreme positive or negative posting. Much of the comments are from individuals, not companies or other organizations. While there’s much generic “anti-government” ranting there are also various examples of Americans expressing frustration over the apparent failings of the FDA and what many consider over-reaching of the agency into private life. Some examples of criticisms of the FDA made by users are:
– Not intervening enough in big pharma drug safety
– Cracking down on small independent farmers and farms
– Making certain products illegal such as HCG
– Not moving fast enough on issues related to organic and natural products
– GMO labeling
– Corruption and wasted resources
– Privacy invasion
– Clunky and unresponsive communication
“I Want to Know if the FDA is Even Looking at all the Comments”
The FDA here faces an interesting opportunity/crisis. Social media has again eliminated traditional boundaries and flattened out the field of voices so that all opinions become level. The FDA posts on its wall and users post back- all perfectly visible for anyone to see. “I want to know if the FDA is even looking at all the comments on its FB page,” posts one user on December 28th. On the FDA’s Facebook page there is only 1-way communication by FDA (posting links) and never a response to user comments. This is another cause of negative reaction by users but one can only imagine what would happen should FDA begin responding to individual comments on the medium of Facebook. Social media use in this case is a double-edged sword.
Americans have never been accused of not speaking our minds. Social media has served as a powerful amplification system for the highs, lows, passions and frustrations of the public and the FDA’s Facebook page is an excellent example. It’s yet to be seen in what way the FDA will respond (or not) to the acerbic stream of opinions gushing out from the world of social media but we can at least deduce that the American public demands accountability from it’s government, desires to be in control of it’s possessions and habits, expects to be heard and cares little for formality in speech and tone. Issues related to food and drug safety appear to be just as important (or slightly less so) than the issues related to the FDA itself as a governmental body. Social media has amplified and made public America’s feelings toward the FDA just as it has toward other agencies and corporations who have chosen to participate in social media.
For detailed statistics on the FDA’s use of social media please see this blog, “FDA Social Media Statistics.“
