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Chris Hughes: Facebook Co-Founder Helps Reshape Presidential Election

Chris Hughes: Facebook Co-Founder Helps Reshape Presidential Election

There's at least one Millennial who used Web 2.0 to help Barack Obama make history during the 2008 presidential election.

Twenty-four-year-old Chris Hughes is a co-founder of Facebook, the popular social networking site connecting more than 150 million users worldwide. In spring 2007, Hughes left Facebook to work on President Obama's media campaign as the director of online organizing.

Hughes helped create a comprehensive Web site -- my.barackobama.com -- that allowed a grass-roots movement to connect more easily via the Web. Through the site, users created their own "MyBO" accounts and groups, hosted community events and made contributions. MyBO account users could also sign up for text alerts and be among the first to receive breaking Obama-related news. The site also helped users locate polling places and encourage friends to vote.

Although the election is over, MyBO is still active. In one video blog, for example, the president urges supporters to stay engaged in efforts to bring change to the nation. The site also features Obama's inauguration speech and promises many Web-based changes are forthcoming. A part of that change is Hughes permanently leaving Facebook to become part of the presidential Web team.

Besides contributing to Obama's victory, Hughes received accolades when he was named the Top Online Marketer of the Year for 2008 by Invesp Consulting.