"Cause Global"

Cause Global: Social Media for Social Change begins by stating that everyone used to think that the Internet would bring on “a more open and democratic society” (Stepanek ¶ 1).  As the Web has evolved over the years, however, that idea seems to ring less and less true.  Data aggregators, like Google and even Facebook, actually decide what information we see online.  They use filters based on the personal choices we make online, like what ads or links we click on.  Because these data aggregators are filtering what we see without our conscious knowledge, they often don’t show content they don’t think we would enjoy, which can be really limiting in terms of information you receive. 

I thought it was an important observation that “we are not using the social media tools we have to solve problems so much as we are using them to socialize with like-minded people about these problems” (Stepanek ¶ 7).  The article discusses how social activists should be focusing on getting people involved offline instead of just using the “social media” to build a list of email subscribers (¶ 7).  When people are just on an email list, they are likely to skim the text and move on.  They may get upset and want to do something about it, but email alone is not enough to motivate people into action.  This article argues that putting more effort into getting people active offline is a much more effective form of promoting civil engagement.

The article continues further down to say that “we must stop assuming that civic engagement will occur online on its own” (¶ 10).  Because we control our social networks based on our preferences (which usually involve people that share our viewpoints), the only voices that get heard from the various groups are the ones that are the most extreme representatives of each group.  This can make it difficult for people within the group to take action as a result of any statements made as well as prevent new members from joining the cause because they don’t agree with the strength of the statement. 

I think a new level of effectiveness will be reached if we can learn to combine social networking and civil engagement.  At this point in time, what we’re doing is not working.  It is so easy for people to be passive with the social media they participate in because it does not encourage them to step into the offline world and put their ideas into action.  I have to wonder how sites are going to rearrange to better motivate people in to action.  I also wonder if moving civil engagement into the offline world to reconnect people if that can eventually lead to a further movement in all kinds of social media to reconnect everyone.