Once upon a time, we lived in a world where no one expected the companies that sold them soap, shoes or snacks to also help cure diseases, feed the hungry, and protect animal habitats. Sure you'd find the occasional donation can at a cash register, but for the most part, bettering the world was not something you looked to do while shopping or encountering ads.
All of that is rapidly changing. Welcome to the "We First" world - one where people are more socially aware than ever, and companies are pulling their weight in innovative ways to create positive change around the world.
In his new book, We First: How Brands and Consumers Use Social Media to Build a Better World, Simon Mainwaring (@simonmainwaring) discusses the connection among social media, brands, charities, and everyday people. He points to SocialVibe as an example of the power of spreading messages on social media and talks about the incredible movement from a "me" world to a "we" world.
We're so honored to be a part of the "we" movement and thrilled to be included in this inspiring book.
Below, SocialVibe CEO, Jay Samit, sums up "the power of all of us."
"Just a few minutes a day…a click here…a post there…can inspire millions to give back to those in need. On average, SocialVibe users share brand campaigns with 170 of their friends and our members, their friends, and our advertisers continue to use social media for social good each day."
We've had the honor of working with hundreds of your favorite brands that want to make a difference. From uploading images of light to fund solar energy projects through GE, to making virtual beds through Marriott to fund disaster relief efforts, we've been able to help offer actions that highlight the work of both brands and charities – and we couldn't have done it without you.
What are some of your favorite socially responsible brands? Share them in the comment section!
SV, a top Social Media Influencer? Stop it; you're making us blush. Okay, don't stop... we love it. In fact, we'd actually love for YOU to head over to this page and vote for us!
It's simple (we promise).
1) Go here 2) Click "Vote Now" 3) Select the GE Ecomagination campaign by SocialVibe
We're up for this award thanks to our work on the GE Ecomagination Photo Project, one that more than 200,000 of you participated in.
In reality, it’s thanks to all of you. As a result of the incredible images you uploaded, more than $50,000 was donated to charity!
Completing that activity helped build a well in Africa, provided more than 400 families in developing nations with 2 solar lights each, decreasing their dependence on kerosene, and funded the construction of three wind turbines to produce electricity for three health clinics in isolated rural communities.
Pretty sweet, huh? Wait… why are you still reading this? Here’s the plan for today: you go vote for us and we’ll keep working with great companies to create cool ways for you to help your favorite causes! Now, get voting!
A book defending and providing guidelines for pedophiles sparked outrage this week and prompted thousands to demand that Amazon stop selling it.
Although their guidelines say that they can remove any book that can lead to illegal activity, Amazon initially said that they do not support censorship of any book, even if they find the content offensive.
“It is the right of every individual to make their own purchasing decisions.”
A few thousand angry comments and a couple of Facebook pages later, they heard their customers loud and clear; the book was pulled Wednesday.
The question remains as to whether or not books about objectionable actions can encourage people to take those actions.
Hit Man: A Technical Manual for Independent Contractors was published in 1983. The book was a how-to guide to murder for hire. Ten years later, a man killed three people and claimed to have used the book as his guide.
He was sentenced to death but the victims’ families were outraged that the book was ever sold.
The court found that the book was not protected by the free speech/press clause of the First Amendment and that the publisher could be liable for triple murder.
Although the publisher was forced to destroy any remaining copies as part of the settlement, the book can be found online. It was cited as a resource by a killer in another case just a few years later.
Forever 21, the clothing store known for bringing über-cheap, up-to-the-second, high-fashion to young girls, has launched a maternity line aimed at teens.
The Forever 21 homepage
Forever 21's new maternity line
While they’ve been careful not to say that teens are the target, the first 3 stores will open in the 3 states that just happen to have the highest teen pregnancy rates: California, Arizona, and Texas.
Salon’s Sara Libby writes that while “over-reactive parents and pundits constantly point a finger of blame at any slice of pop culture that deals with teen pregnancy,” they may have a case this time.
"The brand makes a concerted effort to court customers who can't yet drive themselves to the mall.”
Forever 21 is growing quickly and recently launched a plus-size line for young women. A maternity line seems like a natural extension, but is making an effort to reach areas with high rates of teen pregnancy unethical or just smart business?
GlobalGiving and Neutrogena have teamed up with Vanessa Hudgens, Hayden Panettiere, Emma Roberts and Gabrielle Union in the “Wave for Change” campaign to raise $200,000 for charity this summer.
Image via People
For every Wave Sonic Power-Cleaner or Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit product sold from now until August 23rd, $1 will be donated to GlobalGiving, and organization that connects donors with smaller charities and projects that need support. GlobalGiving will then distribute the funds to environmental, educational and disaster relief charities, but how much each charity gets depends on your vote.
To join the Neutrogena spokesgirls in the Wave for Change campaign and help decide which charities receive the bulk of the cash, visit www.facebook.com/Neutrogena, click the boxes tab and take the quiz. They'll decide which .org you'd most likely choose, based how you rank the importance of things like literacy, recycling, or donating blood.
All funds in the environmental category will go to SV charity, The Whaleman Foundation but, regardless of how funds are distributed, all of the causes are great!
You can earn free donations for The Whaleman Foundation to help stop the slaughter of whales and dolphins by supporting them on Socialvibe!
It’s a tough connection to make; how can your shiny new gadget be linked to violence in the Congo, including rape that fuels the spread of HIV/AIDS?
Your favorite electronics contain minerals like tin that most often come from conflict zones. As the vid below points out, it turns out that Macs and PCs have something in common after all.
Controlling resources used to produce most major tech products is a lucrative business. Armed groups in the Congo use rape, violence, and murder to instill fear in civilians and control mines and trading routes. They make hundreds of millions each year selling the tin, tungsten, and tantalum they collect to electronics companies.
As consumers and voters, we DO have the power to help stop this! Without your vote, politicians don’t get elected. Without your money, electronics companies don’t make any.
According to John Prendergast, human rights activist and co-founder of the Enough Project,
"A year ago most members of Congress hadn't even heard of conflict minerals. In the middle of a turbulent legislative calendar, activists all over the country were heard loudly and clearly: We demand conflict-free products and we expect our legislators to do all they can to ensure that."
Here’s what you can do right now:
1) Let your favorite electronics company know that you like their products and will gladly buy them again once they stop using conflict minerals. Take the pledge to be part of the solution here.
2) Fill out this quick form to ask your representatives to support the Congo Conflict Minerals Act of 2009. If passed, we’ll be able to hold companies accountable for their supply chains. Kudos to the Senate for already giving it a thumbs up.
3) Tell someone! Real change happens when enough people demand it. Send a tweet, post an update, pass it on.
Urban Outfitters is at the center of yet another t-shirt controversy for selling a shirt that says “Eat Less.”
On one hand, it IS just a shirt. The shirt itself did not create any of our myriad diet and weight-related issues. On the other, it does seem like an insensitive reminder to the millions who struggle with body issues and unhealthy attitudes towards food on a daily basis.
The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 5-10% of girls and women suffer from eating disorders and they’re becoming increasing prevalent among men and boys.
Some say that while the shirt itself isn’t offensive, the fact that they’re using an extremely thin young girl to sell it makes it appear like an endorsement for anorexia.
Are people reading into this too much or do we need to discourage messages like this if we want to change attitudes about eating and body image for the next generation?
Have you ever been separated from someone you care about for a long period of time? With roughly 1.5 million men and women on active military duty in the US, chances are you know someone that’s been deployed in past few years.
Staring Amanda Seyfried (Mean Girls, Mama Mia, Big Love) and Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Public Enemies, Stop-Loss), Dear John tells the story a couple who fall in love but are soon divided by war. Only able to see each other sporadically, they keep in touch through letters as John’s deployments become more dangerous.
Whether you’re a fan of the Notebook (both are by Nick Sparks), or just appreciate a good story, you’ll love Dear John.
Check it out on Blue-Ray and DVD May 25th, and make sure to complete the Dear John activity to earn a free donation for your favorite cause.
You can support Iraq and Afghanistan veterans by choosing IAVA as your cause on SocialVibe.
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