What The Ice Bucket Challenge Teaches Us About Social Media

By now you’ve probably seen a friend or family member via social media take part in the “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge,” which is aimed at bringing awareness to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease) while raising money for its victims. ALS is a debilitating disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and can ultimately lead to paralysis. Backed by the ALS Association, the Ice Bucket Challenge has swept the country and raised more than 100 million dollars.

Unfortunately, not everyone sees the Ice Bucket Challenge as a success. Some think it is nothing more than a wildly successful marketing campaign. People claim that the more than ten-fold increase in donations as a result of a Facebook campaign is a sign of social media gone bad. But hold on for a second…

Yes, the Ice Bucket Challenge is a wildly successful marketing campaign, but that does not mean it is not beneficial. Not everything that is marketed to us is as non-nutritious as bottled water. Rather than questioning the success of the Ice Bucket Challenge, we should be using this as a teachable social media moment!

The Ice Bucket Challenge is a great reminder that social media campaigns can work at the right time with the right people.

What has the Ice Bucket Challenge taught us about social media?

Social media gets the word out fast and effortlessly. People across the country called upon their friends and family to support a cause. As we all know, this is key to all fundraising efforts.

Collective capacity is contagious. Participants banded together to make their individual donations into something even greater. This mentality can fuel support and excitement for all causes.

Social media helps reach new donors. By embracing the trends and tastes in social media, nonprofits like the ALS association are successful reaching a broader range of donors.

Through social media, the next generation has once again applied their unique talents and in doing so, benefited many people and encouraged others to get involved.

What more can we learn from them?

Click here and visit the ALS Association website and learn more about ALS and the Ice Bucket Challenge.

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