Auschwitz Now on Facebook
In a move sure to raise more than a few eyebrows, authorities who manage a former Nazi concentration camp have set up a Facebook page for the infamous establishment. Auschwitz, now a Polish state museum, was the site of over 1 million murders at the hands of the Nazi regime, and now has its very own Facebook presence, the BBC reports. Officials set up the page in an effort to raise awareness and further Holocaust education, seeing the networking site as a unique medium through which a younger generation could learn and engage in conversation about one of the darkest chapters of the 20th century.
This foray into Facebook is part of the museum’s ongoing initiative to reach a younger, more technologically versed audience — a campaign that even includes an Auschwitz YouTube channel. The newly minted Facebook page contains information about the museum and a discussion board, as well as links to the official homepage and YouTube channel. It ultimately aspires, as museum official Pawel Sawicki says, to be an instrument of dialogue, and “a place for discussion which is not available on the official website.” Sawicki acknowledges the risk of opening the doors on such a historically delicate and horrific subject, but remains confident that the museum managers will not “let anyone do anything that may abuse the memory of the victims” or Auschwitz, itself.
Sawicki also emphasized that the page is, for now, “just an experiment” — an experiment whose results will be judged based on public reaction. It’s obvious that whoever oversees the site will have to do some serious content monitoring, given the fiery sentiment that any Holocaust-related topic is at risk of arousing. Although we suppose the initial reaction will probably be tepid (being a “fan” of Auschwitz isn’t exactly the kinda thing you want showing up on your mini-feed), we hope that, in the long run, it proves fruitful, educational, and, most importantly, encouraging of discourse. Broaching any politically charged topic on Facebook, let alone one so emotionally combustible, can be risky. If the page manages to thrive, though, it would represent a big step in Facebook’s development from online frathouse to bona fide forum for real and reflective discourse. [From: BBC
]
2 years ago • Notes