[kristopolous]

no. The classic example is missionaries trying to teach malnourished landless peasants how to farm.

The real issue is water rights, land rights, and a traditional seed exchange program.

We have this notion that political self-determination is the end goal - a population having zero economic control we see as irrelevant. That's the issue in these places - they don't have a sovereignty over their own economy.

The only thing facebook could lead to for them is a popular uprising - but that will only be successful if there's a large enough middle class.

What may be more likely is that facebook will act as a further usurpation of the independent critical thought necessary for self-determination because people will have an effective propaganda tool with them at all times.

Imagine if a country wanted to filter out anti-government posts in a users news feed - giving disproportionate voice to a vocal pro-establishment minority; making them look like the silent majority; manufacturing consent as literally as possible. This will happen in your lifetime.

What a lovely future.