Facebook recently changed its gender options so users of the popular social media website could pick from 50 different gender options.
Many users were dissatisfied with the lack of options previous to the upgrade. Users could pick only from two options: “male” and “female,” identities that are far too narrow considering the wide spectrum of gender options that are now available to the population. Users can now pick from labels such as “gender fluid,” “transgender” and “intersex.”
“When you come to Facebook to connect with the people, causes and organizations you care about, we want you to feel comfortable being your true, authentic self. An important part of this is the expression of gender, especially when it extends beyond the definitions of just ‘male’ or ‘female,’ ” said a post from Facebook Diversity, a page on the website.
But this is not all that Facebook has done to accommodate the fluid gender structure it has launched. In addition, Facebook has given users “the ability to choose the pronoun they’d like to be referred to publicly,” according to the diversity page. This means that, in addition to the options of “he/him” and “she/her”, Facebook users now have the option to referred to with the gender neutral pronouns “they/their.”
According to the diversity page, the social media platform worked with a group of LGBT organizations to develop the list of options for its users.
But what about those who do not want to share their gender identity? Facebook has also allowed each user to control who can view their gender option.
Though the rollout is not without flaw. Like any new concept, there is a range of issues associated with its implementation.
On the Facebook Diversity page, users expressed issues they had with the new system. It seems, in Facebook’s hurry to make its platform more diverse, it forgot some important components of the website that relate to gender.
“‘Interested in’ now needs to be fix[ed], it’s still only Female/Male,” said one user.
“There is still no option to identify my relationship with my queer/genderqueer child without selecting ‘Son’ or ‘Daughter,’ even after they changed their profile to neutral pronouns,” said another.
These options will likely be in the works as it is in Facebook’s best interest to create a space where users are able to fully identify themselves and their relationships.
While a majority applaud the website’s move towards diversity, there are still some who criticize any gender option besides “traditional” options. While it may be impossible to please this part of the population, such options are not for that group.
Facebook knows what it is doing, it is appeasing a greater part of its population. Moves like this will keep Facebook popular for many years.