by J. Butler, Applecore Content Development Specialist
Ask anyone who didn't even know what a "Facebook" was two years ago: the social nature of the internet has exploded, turning the web into a collaborative, transparent place to share ideas, spread your message and reach a globe-spanning audience with the click of a button.
So it’s no wonder that spreading awareness – be it political, environmental or charitable – has been biten by the social networking bug. Here’s a handful of sites that do it best, courting innovation while they spread their message.
Political/Current events
Daily Kos – a collaborative political news blog that often recruits its readers to submit their own ‘diary’ entries—albeit under the safety of their screen names. Administrators and ‘power’ users have the ability to edit, delete, or otherwise prohibit diaries and replies (comments) posted by those who don’t have such privileges. [Daily Kos]
Digg—A site where users vote stories into the top spot (called ‘digging’) or ignore them in favor of others (called ‘burying’). Users have an exceptional degree of control over what stories see the front page. [Digg]
Citizen’s Briefing Book—A project of the official White House webpage. American citizens were invited to submit their concerns and suggestions in anticipation of Obama’s administration, with the compiled comments presented to President Obama. The Briefing Book only recently closed submission, and has given an amazing number of ordinary citizens the chance to participate in their government. [Citizen's Briefing Book]
Environmental
Cool People Care—Whether you have five minutes or five hours to spare, this website is full of countless little lifestyle changes for the better of the whole world. From alternatives to wrapping paper to taking four minute showers, this website is full of little gestures that add up to a big whole. [Cool People Care]
Make Me Sustainable—A website that offers you the chance to trace your carbon footprint with just a few clicks of a button—because awareness is the first step to change. Join a network of other users dedicated to improving their own impact on the world, and have an army of like-minded people behind your efforts. [Make Me Sustainable]
Recycle Now—the name says it all: tips and suggestions for integrating a recycling regime into your daily routine. Bright, simply designed and no-nonsense, this website offers so much easy to use advice that you’ll find using it no problem. [Recycle Now]
Charity
Your Luminosity—an online platform for setting up your own charity. It guides you through the process of creating your profile, setting up a donations page, and even provides a guide to filing tax receipts. [Your Luminosity]
Kiva - In this collective fundraising project, a single project of modest size (say, an Ecuadorian bread maker requesting $525) can be funded collectively through donors from around the world. The maximum bid is $25 on any one project, and when the money is repaid, the donor can either keep the money—or use it to fund another project. [KIVA]
TOMS Shoes- “For every pair you purchase, TOMS Shoes will match it with shoes for a child in need. One for one.” So says the motto on their homepage, and browsing their selection finds a variety of simple, well-made shoes that give so much more than you get. [TOMS Shoes]
Heard of any other sites using the internet to connect like-minded people in this way? Share!
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