As I've either mentioned here or elsewhere (in this thing called "reality") I'm interested in what I call the "cause" sector when it comes to my professional goals.
The Cause Sector, in my opinion, is a grouping of three traditional fields:
1. Private industries that intentionally address social and economic issues (i.e. social enterprises)
2. Nonprofits/Philanthropies/Charities
3. Government agencies that directly support the previous two categories
This sector could be referred to as "what really matters" (and this definition is pretty cool, too) but I don't want to pass judgment on anyone not in the cause sector. But I would say that when it comes to directing resources to 'cure what ails us,' this is tops. People in high finance make some nice donations, so no judgment.
Social Media, as everyone in the history of Social Media has ever said, is truly a new wave of communication--not just a marketing tool for consumption--but a new way of finding the people and organizations that share your beliefs, values, and concerns. A two-way street.
These two collide on an expansion of what we believe is really possible to organize--now someone in Indianapolis can learn about why an organization in Houston needs their $10. And those $10 from across the country and world can add up. Before, it was a newspaper article that may go unread, now, it's someone they've met through social media. A million times over.
While it's not all good, here are a few ways that Social Media (capitalized!) can help the Cause Sector:
1. Connect all parts of the Cause Sector
--This should be followed by "duh" but I've skipped that. Simply put, working out of Indianapolis means I can't be in Evansville every day. But I can keep in touch, I can learn, I can interact, and I can do all that instantly. It's like I'm there but in an immovable bubble (cool picture of bubbles).
2. Relay messages during emergencies
--This is where organizations like the Red Cross can step in and make a huge difference. They are already setting this up, and as my office likes to say, a crisis isn't the time to hand out business cards. You meet someone, you keep in touch--even if it is simplistic, and then when the "unfortunate matters" hit the fan, a response can be coordinated. Phones, believe it or not, may not be fast enough. You only have one voice, but social media gives you a megaphone the size of the internet.
3. Realize what we didn't know before about each other
--Sometimes you may not know something about someone you work with, even if you've known them for a while. This is true as well of sites like LinkedIn, and why something like Yammer could be helpful for an office. Maybe it's only 1 thing out of 1000. But that one thing opens up all new doors. There is hardly any arguing that this is the Information Century, and people will be rewarded (and of course, punished) for how they handle their information, as well as that of others. It's not a bad or scary thing--just completely different.
4. Realize what we didn't know before about people we don't know/like
--Social Media could be turned into the bridge that everyone thought the internet would/should be. We have to approach it carefully, and systematically, just like we would in 'reality' (though what does that mean anymore?). The fact of the matter is that when you have never taken the time to talk to a homeless person, but then see a video on your friend's Facebook wall that is a testimony of a homeless person, you may begin to question your prejudices. The potential is amazing.
How else could Social Media impact the Cause Sector?
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