Using Social Media for Global Good
Social Media Club Chicago and Transatlantic Network 2020 shared a night dedicated to Social Media for Global Good on Thursday night 24th June.
Nine presenters spoke about different examples of how social media can change people, lives and causes. The night was full of laughs, singing and pure inspiration. You can watch all the presentations via Social Media Club Chicago’s UStream archives, but here’s a little preview to whet your appetite:
With 2 billion videos views per day on YouTube, Zadi Diaz (@Zadi) believes that web video can have massive impact through its intimate nature and ability to build community. She called on us all to use whatever tools we have to start documenting and connecting.
Sami Ari (@Samiari) is one of the leaders behind #somob4good, a non-profit project created by Sarah Evans. Through the use of social media platforms, people around the world participate in organized flash mobs to raise awareness for social services agencies.
Michelle Gallen ( @MichelleGallen) tells an inspiring story of how a difficult illness brought her to the exploration of emerging online technology, and the creation of an online language learning platform to save the frail language of Ireland. She is now working on using geolocation technology to bring attention to the social good efforts of “superheroes” around the world.
Chris Johnston ( @ChrisJMCE) takes the audience to the Irish Cliffs of Moher, which has been shortlisted as one of 28 finalists for the 7 natural wonders of the world, with the help of a social media 7-Up marketing campaign.
Raul Ramirez Riba (@RaulRamirezRiba) tells the story of how the Mexican people made history with social media to bring about change in the nation’s access to the Internet, among the slowest and most expensive in the world. People came together virtually to push the government to recognize the importance of internet access through a national viral Twitter campaign with the hashtag- #internetnecesario.
Stephanie Schierholz (@Schierholz) social media director for NASA, organizes tweetups for people that are interested in astrophysics and the space program. Her advice: “Make fans & followers into evangelists & collaborators.”
Mark Carter (@MJCarter) shared valuable information on Twestival, a global tweetup phenonmenon. Using social media platforms, it is possible to get together thousands of people to raise millions of dollars for social good and awareness.
Noel Hidalgo (@NoNeck) raises the point that most people are not aware of what goes on inside state senates. After a series of events which raised many questions, New York State now has a new website and free smartphone app to keep New Yorkers up to date and informed about everything a citizen should know about their local and state government.
Jenn Sutherland (@JennSutherland) from DetermiNation, an organization fighting cancer, has created a smartphone app which enables you to “dedicate your birthday’ for Cancer. As anyone who has a family member or a friend with cancer knows, birthdays are important milestones to cancer survivors. You can even blow out candles on your virtual birthday cake using the smartphone app.
What is your favorite example of people using social media to create global good?
We at Transatlantic Network 2020 are so grateful to our wonderful hosts from Social Media Club Chicago: thanks to Barbara Rozgonyi, Amy Ravit Korin (Interactive Amy) and Tim McDonald. We had a blast. Follow them on Twitter to connect with social media profesionals and enthusiasts all across Chicago.
