Chicago (IL) - If you logged on to your Facebook account today, you may have noticed the announcement at the top of your homepage, which detailed a new approach to policy changes on the site. Facebook is looking to institute a form of community democracy in its operation where you, the user, have a say. With an active membership voting, and a 30% user community requirement on issues sufficient to be binding, this change puts the Facebook community in the driver's seat.


Due to user backlash earlier this month following a change in the Facebook terms of service, which granted the site permanent ownership of user content, the company was forced to revert back to its previous terms of service. However, things have not stopped there. The company has now introduced something deemed Facebook Principals, which the company describes as "a set of values that will guide the development of the service, and Statement of Rights and Responsibilities that make clear Facebook's and users' commitments related to the service."

Basically, Facebook would agree to notify the Facebook community prior to making any changes in site policy. Users would then be given an opportunity to comment. Once there were enough comments, then the change would then have an opportunity to be voted upon by users of the community.

One of the first items to test the new democratic Facebook Principals would be the Privacy Policy. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's founder, said, "Over the coming weeks, users will have the opportunity to review, comment and vote."

Facebook wants to let its users know that they actually feel bad about the way events played out regarding policy changes. "Companies like ours need to develop new models of governance," Zuckerberg said. "Rather than simply reissue a new Terms of Use, the changes we're announcing today are designed to open up Facebook so that users can participate meaningfully in our policies and our future."

Facebook plans to hold virtual Town Hall meetings after they announce the new Facebook Principles and a Statement of Rights and Responsibilities for 30 days, with the intent to close the comment period on March 29. The company is granting individual a chance to comment on the proposed policy.

Users should feel free to comment on the Bill of Rights and the Statement of Rights and Responsibilities.

Following the end of the comments period, Facebook will review all submissions and put them under consideration. The Facebook Principles and Statement of Rights and Responsibilities will then be published again with any changes that have been made.


"Bylaws"

Once the first Town Hall meetings have come to an end, the first set of policies will be subject to vote. The vote will be open to all Facebook users who had active accounts as of February 25, 2009. Voting results will be public and will be binding if over 30% of active users participate.

Additionally, a user council will be established. The council will participate closely in policy and practice development. The company has stated that it would invite the authors of the most constructive, and insightful comments on the draft documents to become founding members of the council.

Facebook's attempt to create a democracy among users might give a stronger sense of community, positioning the company in a better place to make revenue as they'd be catering directly to the user and hearing exactly what individuals want. In the alternative, as with every other organization that is open to voting, it could prove out that a very vocal group of Facebook users begins to dictate policy for everybody.