Social media has revolutionized the way we communicate and connect with others. It has also opened up new avenues for people to give back to their communities and make a positive impact on the world.
Take our Youth Service Leadership Summit keynote speaker Caulin Donaldson better known on social as @Trash Caulin for instance. With more than 2 million TikTok followers, Caulin has gained a following based on a single premise – make the world a better place by picking up trash. At the summit, Caulin mentioned he identified a problem everyone was complaining about, however, no one was doing anything about it. He decided to change that and felt called to post a video of himself picking up trash every single day for an entire year to help influence others to do the same.
Caulin admitted his friends made fun of him at first, but it didn’t discourage him from wanting to do his part for the environment. After a while, his friends even ended up joining him on his mission. If you missed Caulin’s speech, check out the recap:
Currently, Caulin raises awareness and inspires others on social media to use their own voice as a platform for good. Do you feel inspired to use your voice for good on social? Let’s explore 4 ways you can become a positively influence others on social media.
Raise Awareness
As Trash Caulin would say, “Awareness is contagious!” Social media provides a powerful platform to raise awareness about social issues and causes. By sharing posts, videos, and stories, you can educate your followers about the impact of their actions and inspire them to take action. For example, do you love advocating for animal welfare? Consider volunteering with our nonprofit partners the Humane Society of Tampa Bay or Hillsborough County’s Pet Resource Center, and post about it to encourage others to help animals in need.
Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is another way social media can be used to influence giving back. Crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe, Kickstarter, and Indiegogo have become popular ways to raise funds for doing good. Did you see our post about a man who raised over $100,000 for an 82-year-old Walmart cashier so that he could retire? If not, check out the article here. It’s truly inspiring! Social media can be used to promote campaigns and encourage followers to contribute to them. By sharing the campaign on your social media platform, you can reach a wider audience and increase the chances of reaching fundraising goals for something you’re passionate about.
Donations
Social can also be used to accept donations for charitable causes. For example, Facebook and Instagram have fundraising features which allows individuals and organizations to raise money for causes they care about. This feature can be used to create a fundraiser for a nonprofit organization, and then shared with followers to encourage donations. For example, you can host a Facebook fundraiser for Ryan Nece Foundation here.
Collaboration
Finally, social media can also be used to collaborate with other like-minded individuals to make a greater impact. By connecting with others who share the same values and goals, you can pool resources and work together to achieve a common objective. For example, Keep Pinellas Beautiful teamed up with Trash Caulin to host a series of beach clean ups. Together, the group organized six beach cleanups for Earth Month. During the last cleanup, 85 people attended and the group collected 100 pounds of trash. Pooling their resources created a much bigger turnout than ever before.
All In All
All in all, social media platforms can be a power platform to influence giving back. By raising awareness, crowdfunding, accepting donations, and collaborating with others, social media can be used to make a positive impact on the world. It is up to each of us to use these tools to create a better future for ourselves and others.
Are you a rising junior (current sophomore) interested in giving back? Consider applying for our Student Service Program. For more information go to: https://ryannecefoundation.org/student-service-program/
