Social Media really CAN save the world!

How 5 brands are using social media with meaning…
In case you were wondering what all the fuss is about, and what effect a few people sharing endless updates on Facebook or Twitter could really have…
…check out these companies and campaigns, all of whom have enjoyed great success for meaningful causes by using social media:

Avaaz.org – check out their chart which documents their successes so far and future targets

Earth Hour on Mashable – a one-stop shop for promoting Earth Hour online.

Games for Change – a non-profit organisation that creates games for charities, government and local health authorities to highlight social, educational and human rights issues, can provide new and effective ways of raising awareness and engaging users.

Zynga, producer of popular Facebook games such as FarmVille, was able to help raise $1.5 million in 5 days for the UN’s World Food Programme. They achieved this by selling virtual goods (for real money), which help players advance to different levels or areas in their online games.

Tom Greatrex, senior planning manager at brand consultancy The Gild, says: “While there are other online social networks which serve niche interests, in my work for youth brands, Facebook remains the fastest-growing and most important.

“There’s a backlash against trivial Facebook groups, towards ones with a real offline relevance. It will increasingly be about issues and actions.”