Now, Facebook is adding petitions to news feed

Facebook is going to launch an application that will let users post and sign online petitions which will come up in their news feeds.

The tool named “Community Actions” will be released for the social network’s users in the US on Monday.

Sources from the Facebook have said that they had been testing the feature for several weeks now in a couple of markets, as reported by TechCrunch.

The feature has been used to support a moratorium on drilling in Colorado and efforts to improve safety of pedestrians near a library in Philadelphia.

Apart from having the choice to simply click “support” for the cause, users can also share personal testimonies and

videos regarding the cause. The feature also lets users tag government officials and agencies who will get constant updates on the petition.

The initiative is a part of a larger effort by us to build “informed and civically engaged communities,” a Facebook spokesperson said.

“Community Actions is another way for people to advocate for changes in their communities and partner with elected officials and government agencies on solutions,”

the spokesperson said.

This feature is different from the petitions people used to post on Facebook through third-party platforms like Change.org or Causes.com.

Community Actions gives Facebook direct oversight to monitor and take petitions down if they violate its community standards.

Facebook has been criticised before for allowing fake content on its site intent on fomenting emotions around divisive issues.