Facebook Email: How will this new Email Feature affect Virtual Political Discourses and Online Political Activism?

Facebook has a substantial civic potential, and several studies have documented that potential, focusing both on everyday generic use of Facebook and on specific political spaces created by it. The space seems to be expanding as the Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the social network will be launching a revamped messaging product, 'Messages,' that will give users an "@facebook.com" email address.
Zuckerberg outlined three features that will define Facebook's new offering, which Zuckerberg described as "the way the future should work": Seamless messaging (users can chat with people through whatever medium they choose, be it SMS, email, or IM), conversation history ("see everything you've discussed with each friend as a single conversation"), and a social inbox for "filtering exactly the messages you want to see."



While many are concerned about this new feature killing Email, my main concern is how easy and quick emailing through facebook will open up more communication and information platforms for political debate.
Early proponents of online politicking have suggested that social media has propelled us into the age of empowerment. And there's no doubt that Facebook and Twitter given their lack of boundaries and control have led to greater political engagement, particularly among younger citizens who are more comfortable in the online world.

Using online social networks for politicians to recruit support is common in the U.S. (e.g, President Obama had his own official Facebook page, twitter page, and official website, etc.) With the development of the Internet, in particular the ability to access facebook on mobile telephones, the phenomenon of dealing with politics online has appeared in Kenya and Africa as well. So, how will this broadening of the social media enhance political participation and democracy?

Chinta Musundi - Beez