How Technology has Become a Catalyst for Social Impact
With every new generation of idea-makers, there has been a new wave of incredible social and technological connection.
By Daniella Steele, UPTOGOOD Ambassador
In a day and age where kids and teens sit around a table playing Pokemon GO, snapchatting their friends, and Instagramming their lunch, we are plagued by the question, “How will these screen lovers survive out there in the real world?”
Being concerned about cultural progression damaging society has been commonplace in our history. In fact, prior to the fears of new technology and social media corrupting our youth, parents similarly thought Elvis shaking his hips was “the devil.” In the 1940s, people had their heads in the newspaper and their ears to the radio. In the 60s, TV was the main attention-grabbing culprit. Now, the fast-paced wonderment of smartphones, laptops, and iPods is the new normal.
However, with new waves of technology there has become an immense skepticism toward young people and they’re abilities to fully engage with the hustle of our working culture. In 2009, state leaders from 48 states led an effort to develop the Common Core State Standards, a new curriculum implemented in state public schools around the country after business owners kept complaining that their fresh-out-of-school workers just weren’t up to par with the average work competency.
Is our younger generation actually becoming less intelligent like State leaders believe? According to Michael Woodley, a psychologist at Umea University in Sweden,
“It’s not simply that intelligence is going down or going up. Different parts of intelligence could be changing in lots of different ways.”
Another philosopher and psychologist, James Flynn, conducted a study on IQ and came to the mathematical conclusion that there was an average increase of three IQ points per decade.
I’ll go with the benefit of the doubt on this one and claim that our intelligence is not shallowing out. Rather, it’s expanding into unseen horizons.
In fact, we are now in an era where we can print 3D organs, send nanobots to kill a virus, plant and harvest crops on the International Space Station and, yes, adventure around our favorite cities catching virtual Pokemon. Our world is connecting, sharing, and learning like never before. In many ways, we are at the peak of our learning and still only scratching the surface of our human potential. Creating a whole new product or initiative is now an achievable goal for anyone with the right connections.
Through the years of technological development came social media, which has promoted a whole new generation of creators and curators. As of 2013, Pew Research Center reports 46% of adult internet users post original photos or videos online that they themselves have created. We call them creators. 41% of adult internet users take photos or videos that they have found online and repost them on sites designed for sharing with many people. We call them curators. These platforms continue to provide people with big ideas with an outlet for their passions, and they learn how to market themselves and their goals from an early age. Without even knowing it, we are promoting a generation of networking marketers and socialites.
Because we are now in a world based on advanced social and technological connection, what better way to engage with one another than a site that is leveraged off of society’s newest strengths?
UPTOGOOD.org is a new video-based impact campaign platform that is designed to bring attention to videos and stories that matter in order to inspire action and promote more good in the world. It brings together inspirational, informative, and inspiring videos in an easy-to-access website where videos can be shared, campaigns and nonprofits can be funded, petitions can be signed, and helpful promises can be made. UPTOGOOD is made possible due to our growing love for technology, social media and the acknowledgment of its benefits for connecting and empowering one another.
In this new age, social media and new technology’s influence in society is irrefutable. Instead of worrying about the end result, we must ensure we are using social media for its right cause — to connect. We have been given a wonderfully connected world with many opportunities for sharing and bonding, such as UPTOGOOD.org. But we must use this power for good. So after you read an inspirational or informative article, login to UPTOGOOD.org create an UPTOGOOD account, and engage with our incredible community of movers and shakers who are generating pledges, signing petitions, donating to important causes and sharing new stories that embolden them.
There, you can check out all kinds of campaigns, varying from animal advocacy to documentaries on food, the environment, and even understanding how to transplant beating hearts over long distances and ultimately save lives. If you too want to be involved in your community in positive ways, take a video of what projects you participate in and upload them to your UPTOGOOD profile, and inspire others to do the same.
Make sure you are using technology and social media for good. Be kind, be positive, and be UPTOGOOD.
HERE ARE YOUR CALLS TO ACTION!
Does being UPTOGOOD resonate? Here are some things you can do to become part of our community!
- WATCHit: Bookmark and visit UPTOGOOD.org to watch impact stories and do your part in supporting campaigns to make the world better with us!
- HOSTit: Create your UPTOGOOD profile here and create an impact campaign around your story.
- SHAREit: Share this article or UPTOGOOD with good hearted people, activists and storytellers you know by tagging them with the hashtag #UPTOGOODspotted. Let them know you think they are up to GOOD and should be part of the community!
- FOLLOWit: We have Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and we’d love for you to join us! Together, let’s start the conversation for good everywhere.
