Government Spent $630K To Be Liked on Facebook

Over 1.7 million people have "liked" the White House on Facebook. President Obama has 33 million Twitter followers. And somewhere along the way, the U.S. Department of State began to feel a bit left out.

"Even bloody 'Gangnam Style' got two million views on YouTube!" officials hissed at one another at Washington, in our imagination. "27 million people have "liked" Kesha on Facebook! KESHA!"

There was only one option.

It was time to take back the country.

Between 2011 and 2013, the State Department spent a ludicrous $630,000 raising awareness of their Facebook profile, according to a new Inspector General report. Now, they have 2 million Facebook "likes"—a little less than Paula Deen, and half as many as Shakespeare. (They are, however, beating out The Very Hungry Caterpillar's fan page, which is something.)

Apparently most of the Department of State's fans aren't even that into them: most don't "like," comment, or even click on much of the content. The very serious report said: "Many in the bureau criticize the advertising campaigns as 'buying fans' who may have once clicked on an ad or 'liked' a photo, but have no real interest in the topic and have never engaged further."

Since the "topic" at hand here is how the country is run, this does not say great things about either the State Department, or most of Facebook.

Now, while this was clearly a colossal waste of taxpayer money, you should probably like Bustle on Facebook before we send the State Department after you.