Blog Action Day: Using Social Media to Fight Poverty

By NikNik · October 15, 2008

It’s MTO’s 2^nd annual Blog Action Day post! If you’re not familiar with Blog Action Day, it’s (1) a uniting of bloggers worldwide, (2) taking action on their blogs, (3) by voicing thoughts, opinions, concerns, etc. on an important issue affecting us all. Last year, the environment was the issue at hand. Click here to read MTO’s 1^st Annual Blog Action Day post on recycling.

This year, Blog Action Day asks us to take a closer look at poverty and how we can help those in need. It’s especially hard to understand poverty if you don’t see it in your own backyard. But, the current economic crisis is making all of us reassess our spending and savings. So if we’re hurting in one way or another, imagine how much more affected the impoverished will become if we stop giving our time and resources.

You may feel strapped which may make you feel less powerful to help. But there are plenty of ways you can reach out using tools and items on hand. So don’t let this economic crisis get you down…get inspired by a need and get motivated to provide what’s needed.

The holidays are approaching so finding ways to reach out are usually apparent. You can easily get involved or be the organizer for your local food drive, blood drive, coat drive, or tech drive. Yes, I said tech drive. Not everyone can afford the latest and greatest technology. Some of us may have been rapid fire upgraders, I know I’m guilty. But our older technology may actually be quite new to others. Let’s face it, computers are no longer a luxury, they are a way of life.

So, don’t wait until Spring to start cleaning out old devices and computers from your garage. Do it now! Gather other passionate tech-heads, reformat old systems and donate them to schools, community centers, and shelters, etc.

Make rallying donations offline a bit easier by choosing a school or recycling center as your donation hub. Then get the word out using the social media tools that already distract you at work and keep you up late at night.

Use Meetup to organize your offline collaboration and Facebook to rally your online network around a Fan Page or Group.  Be sure to select images or photos that can tell a related story or how to help. Upload and tag them on Flickr.  Post event updates on your blog and create an event badge (ex: Tech Drive Donations) others can put on their blog. Tweet your posts and updates on Twitter. And use Twitter Search, Twitter Local and Twinkle to find others in your area or with interest in the same cause.

You already use the tools, so it’s just about finding your passion and direction for fighting poverty. We were strong before social media took off. Think how much more effective, resourceful, and ultimately powerful your efforts can be now!