In reaction to the global uproar surrounding Facebook’s recent allowance of a “Prophet Muhammad Cartoon Day”, several Muslims have formed an offshoot of the popular social networking site aimed at providing Muslims and “Peaceful people from other religions” with a virtual “safe space” in which to network. MillatFacebook.com seeks to provide all the functions of Facebook - minus the massive inventory of apps/games, and of course, minus the religious insensitivity. As the founders put it: “The objective is to provide a platform for all Muslims and nice, decent and sophisticated people of all religions and faiths, to come together and make a network. They should interact in a way that is socially responsible by providing them all the freedom of expression, however respecting each others’ sentiments, sensitivities and beliefs.”
While Facebook touts millions of users a day, the Millat traffic is hovering in the thousands. Sure, the traffic will grow, but the point is: Do Muslims really need a separate Facebook?
Think of it this way: what if every Muslim left Facebook and joined this new site. What if there were no Muslims on Facebook? That situation hardly provides non-Muslim Facebook users with the valuable points of view, cultural insights, and Eid pictures that would otherwise enrich their Muslim-vacant lives. Facebook exists to connect people. Yes there are some people not worth connecting with, but that doesn’t necessitate the creation of self-contained splinter-groups. In the end, if Muslims defect from Facebook, we will only be talking with ourselves. Imagine it now: the last Muslim on Facebook! Do you really want our entire religion represented by this guy? The one who fans “Pakola” and whose status updates consists of incessant cricket commentary and dialectic curses? I think not. Facebook needs Muslims. Muslims need Facebook.
While the Millat effort has its merits - providing some sort of space to connect Muslims and those who were incensed by Facebook’s insensitivity - it is so transparently reactionary that one wonders whether it serves any function incremental to “sticking it” to Facebook. The founders of MillatFacebook are quick to note that their site aims to be technologically progressive, including features like video chat, customizable design of profile pages (including color selection/scheme), polls and blogs.
But it seems the site was erected in such haste that the founders failed to allocate sufficient resources to grammar checks and fact-checks; they claim to be the “Ummah’s very own, first social networking site,” which is untrue.
Despite the misjudgment of Facebook administrators to allow the Cartoon Day debacle to take place - let’s face it, there are plenty of Muslims on Facebook, and there are plenty of opportunities for them to network. The beauty of Facebook is that we can air our grievances as well. No one censors opinions. Trying to make a new Facebook just for Muslims, with the size and breadth of the social networking site, is like to trying to make a new internet for Muslims. We don’t ban Google because it pulls up the Danish cartoons when you search for them. We don’t ban The Food Network because it contains recipes for suckling pig. It may be better, for those so inclined, to offer self-selected content filters on Facebook. That self-selecting logic is currently being experimented with in other media such as search engines geared specifically to providing Muslims with “warning” labels or filter capabilities on certain items.
Who knows? MillatFacebook may be the next big thing for Muslims, especially for those for whom Facebook was banned in reaction to the Cartoon Day events. It’s an admirable effort. But, it’s hard enough to manage feeds/profiles/pictures/friend requests from dubious individuals etc without having to go to multiple sites.
Status Update:
“In the spirit of connecting with my friends and minimizing my daily allowance of unnecessary internet usage, I’m keeping my Facebook page.
Here’s a cartoon of a bird talking to a fish. It’s funny. Please ‘Like’ it.”
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