Students using social networks to change the world

For college students, social tools have become synonymous with modern education. That’s according to a 2009 survey by the Texas-based Center for Community College Student Engagement. The survey found that over 68% of college students who are 25 years or older used social networking-tools like instant messaging, Facebook® and Twitter®. And for 18- to 24-year-old students, the percentage was even higher—stating that 95% of students used the same services (Marklein, 2009).

Two years later, as social networks have gained even more prominence, it’s likely that those numbers are even higher. And while some college students are just now using social networks to organize school projects and share information, others are taking these technologies a step further.

Raising awareness of global issues

When it comes to what users discuss on social networks, a lot of the topics center on current events. And perhaps the most talked about stories involve large-scale natural disasters. Such was the case for the earthquake in Haiti for Huntington, Ind., college students.

When the tragedy occurred in Haiti, Huntington University students who were enrolled in a grassroots marketing class decided to help. While three students joined the relief organization Mission of Hope: Haiti, others used social networks to raise funds to support Haiti relief. In this combined effort, the three Huntington University students serving Mission of Hope: Haiti connected with fellow students and the world through a blog that featured the students’ first-hand perspectives, photos of the devastation, and ways to further contribute to the cause (College students use social media, 2010).

Students back at the university used social networks Twitter and Facebook to communicate and support the students who were on the mission. The students started using the hash-tag “#jterm” to promote the student-organized "J-Term Jam" talent show that helped raise funds to directly benefit two Haiti relief organizations. The students raised more than $800 and proved that social networks could be used to benefit the global community (College students use social media, 2010).

Using social networks to solve problems

In addition to raising awareness of a cause, college students are using social technologies to develop solutions to societal problems. Students at ITESM Zacatecas and MIT created a custom application called “Zaca” to help the disadvantaged farming community in Zacatecas, Mexico.

Zacatecas, known for having rich farmlands that supply food to North and South America, has been experiencing a local crisis. Farmers in the region aren’t able to earn a viable wage because of the middlemen who stand in between the farmers and the free market often exploit the farmers—causing inefficient planting and low returns on crops. This has led more than 40,000 people to flee the area to the United States in search of livable wages (Zaca, 2010).

Students from both universities worked together to develop a cheap text-messaging-based social network that connects farmers with current crop prices and other farmers to exchange best-practices. This network helps farmers collectively bargain with middlemen, and therefore earn a better wage and make wiser crop-planting decisions (Zaca, 2010). These students further proved that social technologies can be used to collaborate on an international level, giving them real power to impact not only a small community’s economy, but to also change the world.

What other ways can social networks be used to benefit the world or even your community? How could you put your plan into action?

Let us know and see how other University of Phoenix students feel about your ideas on Facebook or Twitter.

References

College students use social media to rally support for Haiti. (2010, January 14). Huntington University.

Marklein, M. B. (2009, November 16). Social networks could help community college students. USATODAY. 

Zaca: Twitter meets Bloomberg meets rural farming. (2010, March 17). NetSquared.