Digital technology and social media can raise awareness for social causes on a global scale. Social media allows for interaction between users and encourages activism through sharing information and organizing. While social media brings attention to issues, some argue it only provides an illusion of support without real-world action. However, research shows social media involvement increases intentions of future participation in causes. Social media is a effective tool for nonprofit organizations and social movements to fundraise and inspire support.

1. Social Media
for
Social
Causes

2. Digital technology can be used to raise awareness
for social causes and therefore have a positive
impact on society.[2]
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3. Digital awareness campaigns have the ability to
reach tens of thousands of people worldwide
due to social media. [8] Image sourced from: https://unsplash.com

4. Social media allows people to interact and actively
work with others to reach a common goal, unlike mass
media which encourages passive consumption. [2]
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5. Organizations and social movements have already
used social media to help encourage activism and
empower people. [2]
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6. There has been much discussion and academic research about the purpose
of social media. It has been questioned if it has a positive or negative impact
on social causes and if it can be seen as a type of political activism. [10]
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7. Social media encourages global awareness of causes. Studies have
shown that social awareness of causes and issues result in higher
levels of involvement and support from society. [6]
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8. 92% of NGOs have an active
website [11]
92% of NGOs have an active
Facebook account [11]
72% of NGOs have a Twitter
account [11]
95% believe that social media is
important for online fundraising [11]
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9. Teenagers Making a
Difference
71% of North American
teens use Facebook [9]
Due to social media, teens
today are just as aware of
social issues as adults are. [1]
Social media is one of the best
ways to reach teenagers and
inspire them to help make a
difference. [1]
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10. WE CARE WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF US…SO WE MAKE
DONTATIONS SO OTHERS KNOW ABOUT IT [8]
People use social media to express themselves.[8] Liking and posting
on social media allows people to feel a sense of belonging and
importance within society. [7]
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11. People will care about issues and causes that their
friends care about, which is why Facebook has the
greatest effect on social fundraising. [8]
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12. Clicktivism
According to Marc and Craig Kielburger, clicktivism “is the use of social media to
advance causes”. Social media has the amazing ability to connect people with
social causes they are passionate about [5].
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13. Slacktivism?
Some studies argue that activism through social media only gives people the
illusion that they are doing good without them having to get up from behind their
screen. [8]
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14. People who were involved with social causes on social media
were said to have a higher intent of being involved with the cause
outside of social media compared to those who were not
involved on social media. [4]
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15. 64% of people who “liked” a cause on social media said they
would likely support the cause in other ways as well, such as
donating or doing volunteer work. [5]
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16. Studies say that 85% of
people would donate up to
$50 to a social cause
through their phone [8]
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17. #Social Causes
Examples of social issues that
have gained exposure due to
social media:
-#BringBackOurGirls
-Kony 2012
-Haiti 2010
-Ice Bucket Challenge for ALS [3]
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18. Social organizations
create hashtags to
help people on
social media
easily find
information,
connect with
others and support
their cause. [1]
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19. ALS Ice Bucket
Challenge
Controversy
Many people have criticized
the ALS ice bucket challenge
for “not doing anything”.
But that is not true! Beyond
spreading awareness for
ALS, from July 29 to August
18, the campaign raised
$15.6 million dollars!
That is 800% more than
what was raised the previous
year. [12]
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20. Social media allows people from all over the world to connect and
communicate in real time. Never before have people been so
interconnected than today. Ideas can spread so fast due to social
media. It can unite people with similar goals that want to make a
difference. Social media encourages collaboration, creation and
community involvement globally [2].
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21. Social Awareness is Never Wasted[12]
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22. Work Citedv [1] Agrawal, A. (2016). It’s Not All Bad: The Social Good of Social Media. CMO Network. Retrieved May 30, 2017,
from
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ajagrawal/2016/03/18/its-not-all-bad-the-social-good-of-social-media/
#268d7a70756f
v [2] Bresciani, S., Schmeil, A. (2017). Social Media for Social Good. IEEE Xplore Digital Library. Retrieved May 30,
2017, from http://ieeexplore.ieee.org.proxy.queensu.ca/document/6227944/?arnumber=6227944&tag=1
v [3] Garst, K. (2013). Social Media as a Catalyst for Social Change. Huffington Post. Retrieved May 30, 2017, from
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kim-garst/social-media-as-a-catalys_b_3197544.html
v [4] Hwang, H., Kim, K. (2015). Social Media as a Tool for Social Movements: the Effect of Social Media Use and
Social Capital on Intention to Participate in Socail Movements. International Journal of Consumer Studies 39 (5).
Retrieved May 30, 2017, from http://dw2zn6fm9z.search.serialssolution.com
v [5] Kielburger, C., Kielburger, M. (2015). Global Voices: ‘Liking” Must be Followed Up with Real-World Action.
Times Colonist. Retrieved May 30, 2017, from
http://www.timescolonist.com/life/global-voices-liking-must-be-followed-up-with-real-world-action-1.1820728
v [6] Kim, S., Um, N. (2016). Recognition in Social Media for Supporting a Cause: Involvement and Self-Efficacy as
Moderators. Social Behaviour and Personality, Palmerston North. 44(11). Retrieved May 30, 2017, from
http://search.proquest.com.proxy.queensu.ca/cv_650717/docview/1848803325/abstract/3F5B41F34E534BCCPQ/
1?accountid=6180
v [7] Konnikova, M. (2013). How Facebook Makes Us Unhappy. The New Yorker. Retrieved May 30, 2017, from http:/
www.newyorker.com.proxy.queensu.ca/tech/elements/how-facebook-makes-us-unhappy

23. Work Cited
v [8] Matrix, Syndeyeve. “Social Good”. 2017. Lecture
v [9] Matrix, Syndeyeve. “Online Friends”. 2017. Lecture
v [10] Meuleman, B., Boushel, C. (2014). Hashtags, ruling relations and the everyday: institutional ethnography
insights on social movements. Contemporary Social Science: Journal of the Academy of Social Sciences. 9(1).
Retrieved May 30, 2017, from
http://search.proquest.com.proxy.queensu.ca/cv_650717/docview/1559005859/13B73C61D3714F2APQ/11?
accountid=6180
v [11] Nonprofit Tech for Good. (2017). 27 Stats About How NGOs Worldwide Use Online Technology and Social
Media. Retrieved May 30, 2017, from
http://www.nptechforgood.com/2017/02/07/27-stats-about-how-ngos-worldwide-use-online-technology-and-
social-media/
v [12] Sharma, R. (2014). Stop Pouring Ice on Clicktivism. Huffington Post. Retrieved May 30, 2017, from
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ritusharma/stop-pouring-ice-on-click_b_5692555.html
Images:
v https://unsplash.com