To some individuals social media are built on weak ties, and real social change can never come from loose networks of people that do not know each other.
On the other hand, the facts show that social media sites build online communities, connecting people from all over the world. The communities are comprised up of individuals that come together to create movements for common causes, interests, and/or beliefs. When working together, these passionate communities are incredibly powerful and impact the minds of viewers.
On the other hand, the facts show that social media sites build online communities, connecting people from all over the world. The communities are comprised up of individuals that come together to create movements for common causes, interests, and/or beliefs. When working together, these passionate communities are incredibly powerful and impact the minds of viewers.
“[O]ver 90% of the non-profits in the world use at least one social networking site [.] If you tie that to the fact that almost half the American population uses Facebook you quickly start to see that social media is taking over the non-profit world (just like it’s doing in the business world)”. (Barry, 2011)
The individuals on the networks build strong ties with those who share their passions, even if they have not, and will never meet in person. Before social networking, individuals would have to connect with people within their own communities—limiting knowledge. Now social networking gives individuals the opportunities to dip into, and discuss topics with people on a global scale—breeding a new cultured society. Social media networks have been well accepted, and are an excellent way to get content received by the masses.
“We found that participants who use social networking tools like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube communicate with their networks more regularly and send more messages. This resulted in increased fundraising results by up to 40%”. (Barry, 2011)
More organizations are turning to the online world to increase attention and awareness to a wide range of viewers, to gain new supporters, and to increase fundraising amounts. We also see social media sites developing dedicated to crowdfunding, such as New Jelly and Kick Starter. Likewise, real world communities are turning to online communities to also tap into knowledge and support. We see this in websites based around collaborative life styling, such as, MyParkingSpot and Couchsurfing. Social media is here to stay, and has changed the way we live our lives. Social Media sites have, and continue to bring about real change.
Barry, Frank. "40%, Real Change, and The Power of Social Fundraising [INFOGRAPHIC]." SocialMedia Today, the World's Best Thinkers on Social Media. Social Media Today, 22 Aug. 2011. Web. 14 Mar. 2012. <http://socialmediatoday.com/node/341940>.
I highly agree that social media has opened many doors for expanding knowledge and it is an exceptional way to get a multitude of people together on an opinion. While this is great, I feel that people don't get the same motivation to do something about what they are reading. It's easy to donate money online for a cause (like the Kony 2012) but then we found out afterward that it wasn't all that it seemed. We need physical and face to face interactions to build trust and real connections. And it's easier to have someone do something about an issue if they witness it in person.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Lyndsay; social media does bring a form of social change. I like the approach you have taken; mentioning organizations and their attention to social media tools. I think that is a great point and definately supports your ideas. The examples of CouchSurfing and MyParkingSpot are obvious sites that promote social change. Great Job!!
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