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In the times of quarantines and stay-at-home orders, social media has become even more of a popular way to spend a couple hours a day. For many that just means keeping up with friends and family and sharing some life updates about the new normal. For some companies, however, social media for social good is becoming more of a trend, and it’s a time when society needs a lot more “good” to help maintain positivity. Here are some ways that Instagram and others are being used to make positive changes in communities and beyond.
COVID-19
With so many people connected via Instagram, it has been a successful outlet for sharing information regarding safe practices, updates, and other forms of emergency management to help people stay informed about the coronavirus. There is always the possibility of false information on social media, so be sure to double check information and follow credible sources like the CDC or local organizations like school districts and nonprofits. Donations can also be made directly through Instagram, so you can help causes from the safety of your couch!
Corporate Social Responsibility
Another positive trend in the otherwise negative world has been that of CSR, or corporate social responsibility. CSR has been gaining steam long before the coronavirus, but now with a lot more social needs it’s also a lot more important. In short, corporate social responsibility is a company giving back to the communities that its customers hail from. For local businesses, it is often seen as more genuine, but even big corporations have localized CSR campaigns to help their business stay connected and ultimately help out with social issues in a given community.
On a large scale, corporate social responsibility can involve things like companies reducing their carbon footprints and switching to more sustainable ways of getting their jobs done. Large companies also tend to have a few more dollars to spend, and donations very much fall under the CSR umbrella. Some companies donate to national and international organizations, but dollars go a little bit further when localized for good in a small community. Many companies also encourage their employees to get involved with communities by offering incentives like paid volunteer days, which is, in a sense, a monetary donation to a local cause as well.
Social Media for Charities
Charities can and do utilize social media outlets to spread their messages and fundraise, and a well-planned out hashtag can make awareness and donating as trendy as the new Taylor Swift album on the social media waves. May recall the “Ice Bucket Challenge,” which was estimated to be a large part of A.L.S. organizations receiving more than $115 million in donations. Social marketing is another part of charitable organizations’ means of fundraising, and many have already seen some examples branching from mainstream media to social media, such as the TRUTH cigarette cessation advertisements that are not out to raise any money, just awareness.
What Can You Do?
Well, our parents always told us to share, and when it comes to social media for good, that’s the best thing we can do. In the simplest terms, social media marketing is created to raise brand awareness with little or no cost. When it comes to social initiatives like the ones mentioned above, you can be part of that cost-free spread of information simply by sharing trusted posts about social good that is happening in your community, and by encouraging others to look at certain companies that you think are really taking the bull by the horns when it comes to doing good!
We are influencers and brand affiliates. This post contains affiliate links, most which go to Amazon and are Geo-Affiliate links to nearest Amazon store.
I am interested in all things technology, especially automation, robotics and tech that helps change how society will live in the future.