Sometimes I would like to think that social media can do good.
Nowadays information can be reach from anywhere. No matter if you live in Miami or Mumbai, finding out what happens in another city is one click away. Though I am sure the discourse about information technologies is no longer atypical, the profitable usage is evermore evolving.
Recently, I came across videos on social media talking about online donations and possible shelters for people in Florida that is affected by the hurricane disaster; before that, there were a handful of videos of people asking for donations via their personal account to help those in need in another country like Palestine or Congo. This got me thinking, with us being so exposed to informations and resources to help those in need, will this make us more likely to contribute?
The Emergence of Online Donation
Ever since late 2000s, platforms like GoFundMe or FundRazr has long started online fundraising projects that allows you to fund, basically anyone in the world, and essentially help them reach their goal. Whether it is for project as small as buying school equipment, to helping displaced refugees find a new home, anyone in the world can create or donate to a cause. Not to mention the easiness of online payment these days; platforms now effortlessly convert any currency, from dollars to lira, it is now more accessible than ever for us to donate money anywhere.
Though the use of donation platforms have been around for some time, nowadays, people are using their own social media to post campaigns and donation links. Creatively publicised and eye-catching videos have been used by creators in order to gain as much viewership and as much donations as possible; and there is no doubt that these strategies have been useful for some; in 2024, it was reported that over 40% of survey respondents have donated digitally to crowdfunding campaigns online.
Donating Online Is Just More Efficient
A 2016 survey reported that more than 60% of people would prefer giving their donations online and that the expected numbers of donation will increase each year. For social media users like us, it’s just more easier, don’t you think? all you need is enter the amount of donations then confirm in on your e-wallet, and it’s done! it’s like you’re not even spending any dime. You get to control how much you are willing to give, who are you specifically giving it to, how often will it be, even to how you are addressed, whether it’s anonymously or on behalf of other person; you truly have the ‘freedom’ to do as you pleased. No need for a third-party that might take half of your donations for ‘operational costs’ or signing up for forms you would not want to fill. On top of all that, with content and campaigns tailored by the almighty algorithm, you will always find something you would support.
The Downside of Online Donations
There is, of course, two sides of the same coin. While its effectiveness and efficiency is undeniable, we must take into the account that there will always be someone who take advantages of it. Scammers are notorious for using online platforms to conned people into donating for them, and the tragic part is, sometimes we don’t even know whether our donations are truly given to those in need. We should always be cautious of stories and photos we see on the internet (as some might even be AI!) just like what was reported in a recent news regarding donations for the hurricane victims.
The Future For Donations
I would say that online donations has certainly made a lot of people I know more generous, especially with its efficiency and its accessibility. Though in-person or offline donations will (probably) still exists in for a long time, I think with the use of social media, online charities will surely become way more relevant in the future.
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I wonder if there is also a kind of bystander effect that takes place when online donation links are shared around. Like when someone has a heart attack in the street, and everyone goes “someone call an ambulance!” but then no else is one actually ends up calling the ambulance becaue everyone assumes that everyone already calling the ambulance. I think it’d be interesting if there was a way to know if the people that share these links assume that others are already donating, and if that stops them from donating themselves.
Sorry, it won’t let me edit the comment, but instead of that one messed up sentence I meant this:
Like when someone has a heart attack in the street, and everyone goes “someone call an ambulance!” but then no one actually ends up calling the ambulance because everyone assumes that everyone else is already calling the ambulance.