This past week social media made me smile. In my strategic social media course we often discuss the mishaps of larger organizations that grab everyone's attention for the day. The class will share how the hypothetical organization offended one/many groups of people, their efforts to save their name and how we believe the situation could have been avoided. Social media mishaps are proof that Twitter and Facebook can still make anything go viral.
However, Kennedy Brown's classmates and friends reminded us that social media can be used for good as well! 15-year-old Kennedy Brown was a trending hashtag last week after her classmates at Carnegie Vanguard High School in Houston chose to help their friend who has been battling cancer for the past 2 years. Kennedy's classmates were able to throw an early prom for her and wanted to make the festivities even more special by hoping to get rapper Drake to tweet out a special message for her. Kennedy's classmates used the hashtag #DrakeForKen and got on a local news station asking viewers to mention Drake in the hopes of him responding. Within hours, the hashtag went viral and Drake got in contact with Kennedy's family. This past Saturday Drake was able to do something really special for a fan solely because of passionate students and social media. To follow the rest of the story, visit HuffingtonPost.
It is too often that I see utter nonsense trending on my twitter feed. The irony is that I made the choice to follow the individuals spreading said nonsense via Twitter. When I viewed the hashtag #DrakeForKen earlier this week I disregarded the trend, and today i'm happy to go back to it online. While twitter hashtags are often filled with blatant satire or awareness for a cause, this event was to benefit a fellow student battling a serious ailment. This event justifies the existence of social media going viral. This event teaches younger generations that social media has a variety of uses. This event teaches everyone the power and speed of social media, especially audiences that have yet to fully understand the mediums and their reach.
As a student I am inspired to continue using social media and Twitter especially in the hopes of viewing and contributing to more beneficial causes for the world. I am challenged through this event to continue to use Social Media for the Good.
However, Kennedy Brown's classmates and friends reminded us that social media can be used for good as well! 15-year-old Kennedy Brown was a trending hashtag last week after her classmates at Carnegie Vanguard High School in Houston chose to help their friend who has been battling cancer for the past 2 years. Kennedy's classmates were able to throw an early prom for her and wanted to make the festivities even more special by hoping to get rapper Drake to tweet out a special message for her. Kennedy's classmates used the hashtag #DrakeForKen and got on a local news station asking viewers to mention Drake in the hopes of him responding. Within hours, the hashtag went viral and Drake got in contact with Kennedy's family. This past Saturday Drake was able to do something really special for a fan solely because of passionate students and social media. To follow the rest of the story, visit HuffingtonPost.
It is too often that I see utter nonsense trending on my twitter feed. The irony is that I made the choice to follow the individuals spreading said nonsense via Twitter. When I viewed the hashtag #DrakeForKen earlier this week I disregarded the trend, and today i'm happy to go back to it online. While twitter hashtags are often filled with blatant satire or awareness for a cause, this event was to benefit a fellow student battling a serious ailment. This event justifies the existence of social media going viral. This event teaches younger generations that social media has a variety of uses. This event teaches everyone the power and speed of social media, especially audiences that have yet to fully understand the mediums and their reach.
As a student I am inspired to continue using social media and Twitter especially in the hopes of viewing and contributing to more beneficial causes for the world. I am challenged through this event to continue to use Social Media for the Good.