Around the Net

Facebook Tackles Organ Donor Shortage

  • ABC News, Tuesday, May 1, 2012 12:05 PM

Social media as lifesaver? It sounds like hyperbole or spin, but according to Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook is getting into the business of saving lives. Specifically, Facebook will let patients broadcast their need for organ transplants, and, thus, help eliminate the critical shortage of organs. “Facebook is really about communicating and telling stories,” Zuckerberg told ABC News in an exclusive interview. “We think that people can really help spread awareness of organ donation and that they want to participate in this to their friends. And that can be a big part of helping solve the crisis that’s out there.

According to Zuckerberg, he arrived at the idea during dinner conversations with his med-student girlfriend, and was inspired by the experience of his friend and Apple founder Steve Jobs, whose life was extended by years following a liver transplant. Starting this week, users in the United States and U.K. will be able to add that they’re organ donors to their Timelines, and if they’re not organ donors, they can find links to official organ donation registries and instantly enroll, ABC News reports.

“We want to make it simple,” said Zuckerberg. “You just put in the state or country that you’re from, so that we can help link you to the official registries.”

 

Read the whole story at ABC News »

Next story loading loading..