Whilst sitting in bed playing Minecraft last night, while my Boyfriend chatted at sexy girls with the ChatIW messenger program, something on the TV sparked a discussion about Global Relief Charities. I got on my high horse, and declared that I was stunned to the point of being pissed off, that a particular demographic was being left out of the opportunity to make a global difference.
Let me take a few paragraphs to expound on that very broad statement.
I will admit that I am the kind of person who prefers to get my World Event updates via social media, for the simple fact that I can choose to simply skip by the stuff that either annoys or terrifies me. Being an Empath, I have a low threshold for other people's pain. When confronted with too many atrocities at once, it makes me physically ill. Adding to the mix that I have a chronic illness which dictates its terms to both my brain and my body based on the level of physical, mental, or emotional stress that I am under, and you can see why I may choose the role of the ostrich when it comes to details about things like the Baltimore Riots, the ongoing strife in Uganda, the Ebola outbreak, the Earth Quake in Nepal, and so many other tragic World Events.
I will also admit that, again, largely due to being to ill to stay informed, I have not voted for the better part of a decade. Kind of hard to keep up on who is swinging which way in Parliament, when I'm too busy trying to but one foot in front of the other without walking out in front of a bus.
Anyway! Our lively debate was largely based on my opinion that there are not enough blatant opportunities for the Digital Revolutionaries (AKA, the generation who walk around with their faces glued to their social media, with no Earthly idea what is going on overseas if it doesn't involve Prince William, or the release day line ups in Japan for the latest iPhone) to click on a button to donate to organizations that help in Global Relief Efforts such as UNICEF, The Red Cross, the WHO (no, not the Who, the World Health Organization), Doctors Without Borders, The Red Crescent (the Muslim version of the Red Cross), Save The Children, and Many MANY more.
Based on my casual observations, through the lens of both a consumer, and a marketer, it is my opinion that there need to be more Viral, or Bright and Shiny advertisements giving this demographic something to spend their money on that is making a difference in the World Beyond The Screen. Just look at the Ice Bucket Challenge last summer, geared towards raising funds and awareness for ALS. Now, granted, that the challenge was not always done according to the original idea behind it, nor did many even understand that ALS was a degenerative illness, and not American Sign Language. However, that did not stop the ALS foundations from receiving a massive influx of donations! All fueled by the engine that is Social Media!
My soulless ginger of a boyfriend and I ended up agreeing to disagree as to whether flashy catch and grab opportunities will help or hinder the relief efforts in the long run. He maintains that it could lead to a desensitization to what opportunities there are, to the point of people just ignoring hte ads along with the other zillion of ads that we are inundated with as we surf the Web. I still say that a solution now is help now, and that the problem of desensitization is the problem of tomorrows marketing experts.
Me being me, A mover and shaker, and a Do'er by nature, I have decided to put my money where my mouth is. I intend to brain storm to come up with Ice Bucket Challenge level awesomeness to help tap the rich vein of Charitable Donations residing in the bank accounts and pockets of my fellow Digital Revolutionary. And what better platform to start with than my own Twitter Feed and Cam Shows? After all, we all know that Sex Sells ;)
With that in mind, please keep your eyes peeled for suggestions on how to seize YOUR opportunity to make a global difference, as either a fellow Consumer, or a fellow Social Media Guru ;)
For now, if you wish to donate to The Red Cross, please CLICK HERE.
