Social activism is being transformed by the Web. Some of the most creative forms of protest and philanthropy are taking place online. Activists are conducting demonstrations on YouTube, holding virtual fundraisers and using social network sites like Facebook to change the world — one mouse-click at a time. These cyber-pioneers include a nonprofit group that uses animated 3-D characters to protest the global shortage of drinking water; a Web company that allows ordinary people to create their own personalized charity; and a Goodwill blogger who reshaped the thrift store’s image so thoroughly she was invited to New York Fashion Week.
Ted Hart, co-author of “People to People Fundraising: Social Networking and Web 2.0 for Charities,” says the Web has already become a crucial source for nonprofit fundraising. Americans donated $550 million online in 2001, but that number grew to $10.4 billion in 2007, he says. ”It’s a new world for a lot of nonprofit organizations,” Hart says. ”No longer is it good enough to say give us some money. The rules have changed.”
Yet some people warn that this new world offers people an excuse to engage in “drive-by activism,” superficial forms of cyber-activism that require little commitment. ”The Internet makes it very easy for people to jump in and out of social activism,” says Matthew Hale, assistant professor at Seton Hall University’s Center for Public Service. ”If all the activism is online, it is easier to quit than going to meetings every week.”
With all that being said, one begins to think whether or not real activism is more effective online or in person. Do you think that real change can only be accomplished by committed individuals working together? Should online activism just be reserved as something that empowers people to take the next step, or does it also help clear one’s conscience?
2 Comments
December 11, 2008 at 10:59 pm
The Internet has made fundraising easier in a way, but at the same I also feel that the activism aspect has been weakened because of it. Websites make it so easy to contribute money to any organization or campaign. For example, the Barack Obama website, which was obviously focused on his campaign for presidency, had a big red button that said contribute now. People who have the money and are for Barack Obama would easily press the contribute now button, but if you think about it, it would have a bigger impact on the campaign if they went to a rally and learned more about their views on things, instead of taking the easy route and just contributing over the internet.
December 12, 2008 at 1:20 pm
This is a great example of the changing times. As Brett mentioned, Barack Obama used the internet to raise money as no one else had ever done before. The internet, especially the Web 2.0 internet has been a vital tool in raising money for many organizations around the globe. Maybe the days of cold calling for money is over. Time will only tell if the internet will completly take over this market. However, if the past few years are an indication I believe that it will.