Can Social Media Have a Singular Voice and Be Heard

Many critics of social media claim that it is the masses screaming to be heard, not in a good way. At its core that is a major problem for social media. Many of the blogs and news feeds that get the most traction aren’t always the most newsworthy or the most important.

I friend of mine asked me to check out a website that was trying to incite change through web 2.0/social media tools. The site, ondayone.org, is trying send a message to who ever the next President is that these are the the issues that he/she should try to solve on day one.

I am a huge advocate of non-profits using social media and web 2.0 as a tool for helping spread a message. I have written about it several times in the past and I will continue to follow non-profits in the hopes that they see social media as the catalyst it can be. The site is being backed by several non-profits, most notably the UN Foundation.

I have never been one to talk politics in public. I have my political views and I have always respected those of others. What I would like to hear a discussion on is if you think what ondayone is doing can be accomplished. Young voters, typically the early adopter crowd, have a history of failing to come out and vote. For some reason they have failed to show poll numbers that make them a target for winning politicians.

For ondayone to be a success it needs to link voters with activism. The site needs to use social tools to send a message to those on the campaign trial right now that these are the issues we are interested in seeing covered. I applaud ondayone for what they are trying to accomplish. I wish more non-profits would try to elicit change by using social media.

Take a look at the site, give it a once over, and let me know what you think. I am interested in hearing a discussion on if you think the tools that ondayone is using will make a difference. Lets not make this into a discussion of which issue has the most merit, there are plenty of political blogs for that, lets have an open discussion on the feasibility of their mission and if we think there are any other tools they could be using to get their message out.

Join Baratunde Thurston (left), The Onion’s Director of Digital and author of How to Be Black, for an entertaining look at creative social media campaigns in our Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting February 16. Other speakers include Morin Oluwole (Facebook), Tim Devane (bitly), and SocialTimes' writer Devon Glenn.   Register now.