Facebook is forcing pharmaceutical companies to open up and swallow public opinion. Before this week, the organizations were allowed to have closed walls that didn’t allow users to post. Thanks to a shift in policy, pharmaceutical companies now no longer receive the privilege.

The AP reports some skittish companies, including the makers of an antidepressant and Johnson & Johnson, planned to close some affected pages. The thinking goes that the unwashed masses may badmouth drugs or write about inappropriate uses. Some companies, such as Pfizer, are going to keep their current pages but monitor them closely.

A Facebook rep tells the AP he thinks the changes will “encourage authentic dialogue on pages.”

Worried drug firms losing Facebook protections [AP via Arizona Daily Star]

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