Social inequality

Does Facebook’s response to the Paris terror attacks suggest it has a pro-western bias?

Facebook has been accused of having a pro-western bias. (Dado Ruvic / Reuters)

When ISIL terrorists attacked Paris on Friday night, many people found out about it through social media. Facebook was quick to react by providing its members in France with a “safety check” feature to let their friends know that they were OK. Later, an app was made available allowing Facebookers to superimpose a transparent tricolour on their profile picture to show their solidarity with the victims. It was, many thought, an appropriate and sensitive response.

But, as others have rightly noted, Facebook hasn’t offered similar options to help and support other terror victims, including those of the Beirut bombings the day before the Paris attacks. Facebook stood accused of “selected sympathy” and a western bias.

It’s clear that Facebook has evolved from a personal networking site to a forum for discussion, much of it political. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, it’s important that Facebook itself, which has apologised, is seen to be taking an unbiased approach.