Social media is about connecting and interacting with people around the world through available online resources such as blogs, internet forums, wikis, video sharing websites etc. Facebook and Twitter are two such examples of social media where internet users worldwide interact with each other for a common purpose. But can social media also connect NGOs and activists around the world to strengthen their movements and achieve their goals?
Although social media for a cause existed earlier in form of online campaigns, the use of newer internet technologies has increased and given shape to creative ways to reach out the world and get ourselves heard. Greenpeace has proved this in its social media campaign called Kit Kat for saving the environment. The campaign enables “individuals to make demands that protect our environment via social media.” One of the social media tools used here can be seen in the interesting video below:
One of the recent results of this campaign has been that Nestlé is now “convinced to commit to removing products coming from rainforest destruction from its supply chains.” This is a great achievement for Greenpeace but it also establishes the fact that social media can empower NGOs and activists to take forward their messages, create mass mobilization worldwide and build effective movements for social change.
