October 4, 2010
Social Media and Social Good – Something New to "Like" Online
It may not have popped up on your News Feed this morning, but Facebook has some big news. Founder, Mark Zuckerberg, is donating $100 million to establish “Startup: Education”. The money will go towards improving the Newark school system, one of the weakest in the nation. Even though Zuckerberg is not from New Jersey, he selected it because Governor Corey Booker and Mayor Chris Christie are both strong leaders dedicated to education.
Zuckerberg’s Facebook announcement states that they want to develop “standards and metrics that reward excellence in teaching, school leadership, and student achievement.” Specific plans for the funds are still in progress, but may include opening new schools, closing unsuccessful ones, and experimenting with teacher pay. Within 5 years, Zuckerberg hopes to make visible progress and establish a method that other school systems can implement.
Yet, despite his generous donation, Zuckerberg is already facing skeptics. Could the foundation be just one big PR stunt? True, it probably isn’t a coincidence this announcement coincides with the release of The Social Network, an unflattering portrayal of the man behind the media. Forbes magazine also just ranked Zuckerberg at #35 on its list of wealthiest Americans- a sign that it might be time to give back. Nevertheless, $100 million is no small personal donation, and it has the potential to make a difference.
Whatever Zuckerberg’s motivation, the project will be an interesting experiment in the power of social media. The organization’s Facebook page will most likely be cutting edge, and you can even follow Mayor Booker on twitter.
Of course, Zuckerberg isn’t the only one blending social media with social progress. Last week, Mashable and 92Y partnered with the UN to host the “Social Good Summit” forum which discusses using social media to address global challenges. You can watch speakers from the event online at http://bit.ly/bGKVse
Check out the video of the associate manager of Public Policy at Facebook, MTV CEO Judy McGrath, and Chief Marketing Officer of Sesame Workshop on “How Sesame Street Is Changing Our World.”
Social media may be going Hollywood next month, but it’s not all glitz and glamour. Facebook and other networking sites will be part of how we face global challenges.
