Journalism for justice is not a new concept, but in the digital age it might look more like blogging for a cause. Benevolent blogging can take place across social media platforms where people can speak out for an issue that resonates with them. Trend Hunter Editor Meghan Young counts down her top picks from comical sobriety selfies to anti-bullying videos and feminist hashtags.
Blogging for a cause, Wexism on Tumblr posts funny face selfies where she holds a white board containing different phrases she's heard when she tells people she doesn't drink. In 2011 Jonah Mowry uploaded a video of himself on YouTube sharing his personal experience of being bullied using white cards, spawning a movement on the video hosting platform. To refute the stereotype feminists are ugly, a hashtag-based social media campaign was born that also utilizes selfies.
Benevolent Blogging
Editor Meghan Young Discusses Her Favorite Examples of Blogging for a Cause
Trend Themes
1. Blogging for a Cause - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Developing platforms that enable bloggers to raise awareness and support for social issues.
2. Comical Sobriety Selfies - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Creating apps or filters that allow users to add humorous captions or effects to selfies that highlight personal experiences related to important causes.
3. Anti-bullying Videos - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Designing video-sharing platforms with enhanced privacy settings and features that encourage bystanders to stand up against bullying.
Industry Implications
1. Social Media - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrating fundraising capabilities into social media platforms to empower bloggers and activists to collect donations and support for causes.
2. Video Hosting - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Developing streamlined video editing tools and collaborative features to enable users to create impactful anti-bullying videos more easily.
3. Feminist Advocacy - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Building social media platforms or online communities specifically designed to amplify feminist messages, hashtags, and campaigns.