Thank you for your excellent post on Facebook and its connection to philanthropy with the application added called, ???Causes???. I found it very helpful that you started off your post explaining how many different organizations have entered the virtual world of giving such as Breast Cancer and Darfur. As an avid user of Facebook it did shock me that he Breast Cancer Research ???cause??? has over 2.2 million subscribers. Also, not usually included in many posts about Facebook applications, is the business motivation and growth of the company. In this time of economic crisis, I find it ironic, that the Internet based social networks seem to be in the clear, and unlike most are making money in a time when the world market is in bad shape. I feel this shows the power that the Internet has created: a virtual world almost completely separate from the real world. By adding the Facebook ???Causes???, it appears to be a smart move by both Facebook and those organizations who have used this program to reach out to where to public is-- on their computers.
As a member of Facbeook, I have seen the application in use by some of my friends and other subscribers of the network. Although I am someone who feels strongly about being active in the non-profit world, I was skeptical to use this application, not fully understanding its point. As a user, it seemed useless, because I felt this was just another way for these organizations to get my information and ask for money. I strongly believe that active rather then monetary help is the most effective way to change the world???s most pressing issues. After reading your post, I did realize that for these organizations, the motivation is not purely to get donations. Discussing the support and awareness was something I had not originally thought of. Looking at Facebook ???Causes??? after reading your post; I did realize how much press a single organization can get on the social network. As you had mentioned the donation???s coming from Facebook subscribers is small, the connection that this program fosters might make difference. I am interested to see where Facebook ???Causes??? goes in the future. I have more faith in this approach after reading what you wrote that it might get more people involved, and hopefully with the publicity some will start to move out the virtual world and into the one that needs help.
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Facebook-ing Philanthropy
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More revolutionary still, social networks are creating a direct relationship between donor and cause through heightened transparency (on Facebook you can determine exactly where the money goes) and lower transaction costs (no mass-mailings for minor-league nonprofits, no prohibitively expensive fund-raising galas for small-fry donors). "I can see who made a donation and I can say 'thank you' on Facebook," says Lindsey O'Neill, a development officer at Brigham and Women's Hospital. "It really helps to foster that connected feeling." And it also gives donors something to gloat about in front of all their friends.
© 2007
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