Facebook annexed Kosovo — and that’s a good thing

The World
The World

For a digital diplomat like Petrit Selimi, getting Kosovo's independence recognized is not about increasing your cache of guns — it's about Facebook.

Selimi, Kosovo’s deputy minister of foreign affairs, argues that being on Facebook is an important step in Kosovo defining itself as a country.

He was part of a group that reached out to digital companies like Facebook to get them to add Kovoso to their country list.

Imagine living in Kosovo but not having a digital home. You simply couldn't select Kosovo as your location, because it wasn't an option on Facebook's dropdown list.

Then in 2013, the social networking giant updated its platform and effectively recognized Kosovo as a country.

The decision allowed users to set Kosovo as the place where they live. Before, they were scattered across different states, such as Albania and Serbia.

Selimi calls getting Kosovo listed as a country on Facebook the "biggest success of Kosovo's digital diplomacy."

Kickstart The World’s fundraising drive!

The article you just read is free because dedicated readers and listeners like you chose to support our nonprofit newsroom. Our team works tirelessly to ensure you hear the latest in international, human-centered reporting every weekday. But our work would not be possible without you. We need your help.

Make a gift today to help us raise $67,000  by the end of the year and keep The World going strong. Every gift will get us one step closer to our goal!