The holidays are a time of giving and never before has it been so easy, not only through support but also through attention, thanks to social media.
The Tweet-Drive, a one-night tweet up hosted by Twitter to donate toys for the less fortunate, has now been joined by Social Media Club to be broadcasted worldwide just in time for this busy season of joy.
Their success last year has caused this particular charity event to become an annual occurrence. Abraham Harrison’s own earlier efforts this Thanksgiving with Miriam’s Kitchen to feed the poor, as well as several other charity opportunities, can be easily monitored and advertised with links to where money can be donated or where the viewers’ physical presence would be appreciated.
These are just one of many generous opportunities online, and what more can be asked for from the powers of social media? Sure, companies can use the Internet to further their consumer lists and advertise their products for more material interests. But the Web’s advantages work both ways, inspiring the charitable spirit even as the holiday sales come out.
Black Friday in particular marked the beginning of the holiday race off, with news on the latest store openings and blogs entertaining to the corruption of consumerism just in time to capture the attention of the common gift-giver.
But, with social media handing out advertising like candy, the red-clothed Santa Claus’ on the street corner in front of Macy’s are no longer needed to rake in the extra coins for charity, though both the advertising and charity go hand-in-hand like gift-wrapping and the big, red bow.
In fact, thanks to Facebook, Twitter, and a variety of other social launch pads, individual charities can be taken up as easily as one can go to his neighbor’s door. Entire communities are saved by online representation asking whatever generous spirit is out there for donations or hand-outs to help a good cause.
After all, who can deny that one tweet which simply asks for more toys in the children’s’ hospital, or the blog telling of an older gentlemen in need of some good holiday cheer?
However, a lot of long-standing charities for the holiday season fail to make themselves known online, lacking the resources, the time, or simply the effort. They don’t realize the opportunities available or the amount of interest that can accumulate simply through a 140-word post.
Because of that, a majority of viewers who would be happy to donate even a few dollars are lost to the overwhelming advertising evils of the holiday season.
Similarly, there is a distinct feel of skepticism over any charity events or monetary opportunities simply due to the notoriety of scams out there on the Net, which makes it harmful for the actual organizations to get any feedback.
But the key to recognizing the generous spirit of others merely comes from the quality of the tools they use. Twitter, Facebook, and other official social media sites are accessed in succession to ensure that such scams on the public are in fact denied or at least recognized right away.
Luckily, if that can be avoided and with the combined efforts of both online viewership and social media, charity organizations in this holiday season have a fighting chance against the overwhelming ads, the stores sales, and the consumer chaos; hopefully, in time for the recipients to enjoy a fully hospitable holiday.
