New / social media

The Banality of ‘Don’t Be Evil’ 6 Guidelines for Better Development Outcomes Using Social Media. In the next few years, another 2 billion people will be coming online; transforming the Internet from what once was an elite network of the world’s privileged to a democratizer of information and power.

This wave of new users will mainly enter the Internet via mobile phones on social networks. Of course Facebook feels dominant today – there are now more people on Facebook than the total number of people online in 2004. And there are more Facebook users in Bangkok or Jakarta than London. Facebook’s success is followed closely by Twitter, which is (rightly) seen as a whole different kind of social media. Just check out these African tweet maps. More powerfully than radio or TV, social media allows you to interact directly with your constituents, breaking down hierarchical barriers.

So if social media has this great reach, how can we implement and manage a social media strategy in international development programs to effect real world actions and long-term behavioral change? 1. Internet activism is a myth. Asia-Pacific Social Media Statistics  Internet usage is sky-rocketing throughout the Asia-Pacific region, obviously making the growth of social media the fastest in the world, as you’ll see, it’s not all about Facebook, but it still leads the way across the region, at least for now.

This is a nice collective Infographic from Burson-Marsteller. What if Environmentalism Were as Big as Social Media? [INFOGRAPHIC] What if everyone across the globe used his or her social media influence to help the planet?

The impact would be huge, according to a recent infographic from Recyclebank, a company that rewards green consumers with discounts and deals from local and national businesses. The data encourages the connected generation to use social networks and technology for a positive effect on the earth. For example, if each Pinterest user shared one green idea per month, there would be 12 million more environmentally-conscious tips being passed around. It. [Data Viz] KONY2012: See How Invisible Networks Helped a Campaign Capture the World’s Attention. If you’ve spent any time at all on Twitter and Facebook over the last week or so, you’ve undoubtably heard about KONY2012.

Genext: Small Families' Advocacy Campaign. Launched in 2010, Genext is a nationwide participatory youth campaign in Uganda that is advocating for smaller family sizes.

Implemented by the Uganda Health Marketing Group (UHMG) with the support of United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the project brings together youth aged 18 to 30 years as "Good Life" Ambassadors, who are rallying for a smaller population by 2013. When thieves struck, this Kenyan chief turned to Twitter. When Francis Kariuki got a 4 a.m. call that thieves were breaking into a home in his Kenyan village, he turned to a technological tool for help -- Twitter.

He put the word out in less than 140 characters. Can Technology be transformational? Opening up Development through Technology. Twitter, Facebook, SMS, and Crowdsourcing—2011 has certainly been the year in which the use of social media and technology has captured the world’s attention.

From Tahrir Square in Egypt to the Anna Hazare movement in India, citizens have demonstrated that they want voice and accountability. Innovations in social media, mobile phones and inter-active mapping are powerful tools to mobilize citizens and to provide people with a voice—thus broadening the political debate. However, key questions remain unanswered: What role can these innovative tools play to encourage governments, donors and foundations to become more transparent, open and accountable? Social Media and News. Download Files Download the complete 21-page report. 198.49 KB pdf The Mapping Digital Media project examines the global opportunities and risks created by the transition from traditional to digital media.

Covering 60 countries, the project examines how these changes affect the core democratic service that any media system should provide: news about political, economic, and social affairs. The incredible growth of social media has dominated the Web 2.0 decade. News organizations are being sidestepped by newsmakers that use social media to communicate directly with audiences; news products are being unbundled across multiple platforms; and production processes are becoming more networked.

Africa's new generation is using social media to push for change. Africa is becoming increasingly attractive to international investors, and the growth in its human capital is also very exciting.

This new generation of makers, doers, inventors, venture capitalists, bloggers, policymakers – the "Cheetah Generation" as the Ghanaian economist George Ayittey has called them – are the hungry grassroots who have been let down by their governments. All they want to do is reshape the continent. Africa has never been talked about this much and – yes – there is a reason of why a continent once perceived as problematic and unattractive is suddenly the hottest date in town. From economists, investment bankers, would-be philanthropists, well-meaning donors, and business experts, to arrogant, know-it-all people who failed the continent in front of our eyes but still deny it, more than ever, everyone is interested in our continent. There is a growing confidence among the African cheetahs. . * Mariéme Jamme is co-founder of Africa Gathering. The Internet in East Africa - an Aid Or a Weapon? [press release]