My mass media case study was about how social media affected fundraising efforts for the Haiti earthquake. With our generation living within a technological world, social media websites have the power to significantly get information out within a quick matter of time. In this case, it used its powers for good to help those in need within seconds.
Whether it is with a cell phone or a computer, people now have access to information as soon as an event occurs. Along with quick access, people also have the ability to easily interact with others utilizing blog or status updates. Therefore, users have the ability to forward or distribute further information within the subject, causing news to become extremely viral. The new way of sharing quick information has significantly increased knowledge of causes, and ways to help out simply and effortlessly.
Like the Pepsi campaign I mentioned in my last blog, I thought this was a great way to get attention from the population and encourage them to help out. I personally don’t watch a lot of TV, and would have had no idea what was going on in Haiti if it weren’t for Facebook and Twitter. The more the word gets out there about how much these people need aid, the more likely people are going to respond. CNN.com reported that the “use of mass social media alone assisted in raising eight million dollars by the end of the week.” I was extremely impressed to know that so many people have contributed to aiding in the cause and how well social networking websites positively helped getting the word out, along with information on how and where to donate.
For more information within this case, please check out my following sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/01/14/online.donations.haiti/index.html
http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/social-media-and-mobile-texting-a-major-source-of-info-and-aid-for-earthquake-in-haiti/
http://www.journalism.org/index_report/social_media_aid_haiti_relief_effort
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I definitely agree, I don't want too much TV and the only way I know about Haiti is from Facebook statuses or Twitter. I do what E! News and they were also talking about a Haiti benefit they were having where people could donate money and help out. I can't believe social media helped with $8 million. That's just unbelievable!
ReplyDeleteThat's actually pretty crazy that social media alone has raised nearly $8 million for the Haiti relief efforts. I think it's an awesome way for people to help out, and best of all it takes merely seconds to donate $10 through a text message. The only thing I don't like about some of this is people using things like this as scams. I don't know of a specific example but I have heard stories about people trying to hoax others into donating when they are actually putting money into the pockets of others who dont need it. Other than that, it's awesome that all of this money is being raised, social media aided or not.
ReplyDeleteYou can use online apps available on Facebook to help raise money by sharing with your friends, school/college, neighbor anyone you have relation with. Anyone can create online fundraising pages for their favorite nonprofit organization and use Facebook to promote and rasie fund through www.connecttocharity.com
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