Tweeting with a social conscience
Sara Falconer
With #socialgood as one of the top trending topics on Twitter, it's clear that people are using the micro-blogging site for more than bleating about what they ate for breakfast or that they miss Michael Jackson. But can you really make a difference in 140 characters or less?The social media guide Mashable is live-streaming as it wraps up its Summer of Social Good, using Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, 12seconds.tv and GlobalGiving to raise funds for the Humane Society, LIVEStrong, Oxfam and the World Wildlife Fund. In February, the first Twestival Global took place in 202 cities, raising $250,000 to help Charity Water bring clean drinking water to developing nations. In September, e-do-gooders around the world will host events to raise funds for local causes through Twestival Local.
"Platforms like Twitter and Facebook allow us instant connectivity with hundreds of thousands of people," says Massimo Farina, creative director of Filter Box Media. The marketing group is helping produce a Twestival Local event in Montreal on Sept. 10 at historical mansion/dance club Le Social (1445 Bishop St.).
"We decided to take on this project because we believe in using social media for social good," he explains. Last month, Montreal Twitter users voted unanimously to support Head & Hands (www.headandhands.ca), a non-profit organization that provides a wide range of social services to young people.
Teams of volunteers have been going the extra mile
to line up entertainment and sponsors for the event. "It's like a tweet-up with a social conscience," Farina says. The sprawling mansion's many rooms will feature everything today's socially mindful net junkie would want from a little F2F action: live DJs spinning different kinds of music, a rock band competition and an instant photo booth. "We're even planning a game show with prizes," he says. "It's going to be a fun mixture of events."
Tickets for the twestivities are available at montreal.twestival.com
