White House lets netizens message Obama on Facebook

Supporters and critics of US president Barack Obama can now send him a message as instantaneously as chatting with friends on social media through the White House’s Facebook page.

Americans and people of other nationalities need not rely on snail mail to reach out to one of the most powerful men in the globe. Sending Obama a message is just a few clicks away for anyone with Internet access and a Facebook account.

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Following Presidential tradition dating back to Thomas Jefferson, Obama reportedly reads 10 letters every night. The routine is meant to keep the Chief Executive in touch with grassroots realities as described and reported to him by citizens.

Since reading citizens’ letters end up as a “powerful motivator” for Obama, the White House is giving more options for people to reach out to the President, who already interacts with netizens as @POTUS on Twitter.

“Today, there are more ways than ever for us to communicate. No matter where you are or what time of day it is, it’s possible to connect instantaneously, in real time, to people all over the world. One of our jobs at the White House is to keep up,” Goldman said.

That’s why today, for the first time ever, you will be able to send a note to President Obama simply by messaging the White House on Facebook, the same way you message your friends.”

Nevertheless, there is no assurance if the messages sent to Obama via the White House’ Facebook page will actually land on the president’s table. But the instantaneous nature of real-time messaging is a breath of fresh air for those relying mainly on mail to communicate with the president.

The White House started receiving mails from concerned citizens in 1801. It took its first phone call in 1880 and received its first email through WhiteHouse.gov in 1994.

WATCH: Learn how to send President Barack Obama a message on Facebook