We’ve seen brands think of new and exciting ways to use social media to engage their audiences, but when a group takes to Twitter or Facebook to promote wellness or social change, it really catches our attention. Chicago Ideas Week and the American Diabetes Association have taken to Twitter and Facebook, respectively, to make a difference in people’s lives.
#WhatIfChicago
In an effort to cut down on gun violence in the Windy City, Chicago Ideas Week (CIW) decided to launch an experiment. Using the Twitter handle @WhatIfChicago and the hashtag #WhatIfChicago, CIW asked Twitter-using Chicagoans an important and difficult question, “How do we get illegal guns off Chicago streets?” Followers were then invited to submit their ideas to the conversation which were discussed at a Chicago Ideas Week panel. According to the folks over at CIW, the response was astounding and encouraging. “We’ve had 300,000 people engaged in this campaign,” said CIW director Jessica Malkin. “The hope is a few of these ideas stick.”
A Day in the Life of Diabetes
Since its introduction, many brands and Facebook users have struggled with the Timeline cover photo. Not long ago, we talked about how LensCrafters is making it easy for users to personalize the area, but the American Diabetes Association is using theirs to make a difference. The Day in the Life of Diabetes campaign is working to change the way the average American thinks of diabetes, by showing how those with the disease live with it every day. The ADA is inviting diabetics to upload a photo of themselves that encapsulates, for them, what it’s like to deal with the disease on a daily basis. For every photo uploaded, CVS/Pharmacy will donate $1 to the ADA, up to $25,000.
Have you encountered other brands that are using social media to create a better world?
