About a few weeks of the first time of Facebook in market, the social network Facebook has launched a feature that allows users to identify themselves in their profile as organ donors. The aim is to facilitate the finding of compatible donor for transplantation to a global scale.

With the transition to the timeline, users of most popular social network in the world were able to tell all his life in more detail. The first tattoo, the first kiss or even weight loss are some of the episodes that Facebook users are able to share over the line "life events". But from now on, can also identify themselves as organ donors and encourage your friends to register as well. For now, the option is only available in the United Kingdom and the United States.

The purpose of Facebook is precisely to improve the base of organ donors and facilitate the search for compatible donors for transplantation through the power of communication and interpersonal relations. "We could never have predicted that what started as a small community were to become a powerful tool for communication and problem solving. Now we hope to build tools that help transform the way we solve all problems on a global scale, "reads a post published on the last Tuesday in the official Facebook page, signed by the chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, along with chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg.

According to those responsible, just in the United States there are about 114 000 people 'waiting for tranplante heart, kidney or liver to save his life ", and 18 people die on average per day for no organs available. "Doctors believe that greater awareness of organ donation can be a big step in solving this problem. And we believe that if the other person just say that you are donating, sharing the power of [this information] can play an important role, "they add.

But Facebook goes further and gives the possibility to people who are not officially registered as an organ donor and want to do it in contact with the national registry, by providing the respective links.

According to Facebook, more than 100 000 social network users identified themselves as donors on their timelines. And, according to Donate Life Association of America (which is collaborating with Facebook), quoted by USA Today site that at one day, more than six thousand people were registered officially as a donor in 22 U.S. states, through the links disclosed the social network. On a normal day, there are only about 400 people a day that set of states.

Inês Pereira