14 DAY TRIAL // The UK government is teaming up with Facebook in an effort by the authorities to connect with the British citizens as part of the Spending Challenge program. The challenge is setup to provide people a direct avenue to suggest cost saving measures to the cash-strapped government. Facebook has set up the spending challenge channel as a part of the Democracy UK Facebook Page, created before the general elections in the country, earlier this year.
“The Government has announced a partnership with Facebook as it seeks to get more for less and tackle the deficit. The social networking site will support the Treasury’s Spending Challenge by providing a dedicated space for Facebook users to come up with ideas on how to make savings in public spending,” an announcement on the UK’s Prime Minister blog read.
The UK, like much of the western world, is facing one of the worst financial crisis in years. The government needs to cut spending and, while the budget plan has been pretty much completed, it’s asking for input on how to handle things. It initially asked public sector employees for ideas, resulting in 60,000 suggestions in two weeks, the government says.
Now it’s continuing with the second stage which involves getting feedback from the general public. Facebook users, which are not a few in the UK, are expected to voice their opinions and suggestions.
"We are really excited about having Facebook involved in the spending challenge. There's enormous civic spirit in this country where people want to take control and do things in a different way. We are giving people an opportunity with Facebook and I am sure that they will take it," Prime Minister, David Cameron, said. The Prime Minister also got together with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, via two-way chat, to talk about the project.