The Two Sides of The Digital Age

By: JeryesImage by: Paul H - Flickr

Technology should be regarded as a tool that can be used.... Photo by: Brendahollows- Flickr

...to help those in need with the

convenience of modern technology.

Photo: mrbill - Flickr

Or to steal from those

that have done nothing wrong...

45 million dollars stolen by "hacking into credit card processing firms and withdrawing money from cash machines in 27 countries." -Reuters Reporter Image: By epSos.de - Flickr

Checking e-mails may be annoying...

Image: Basykes - Flickr

"more than $438 million online donations from over 6.5 million online gifts..."-

Matt Petronzio

...but can also be rewarding when you help with

Image: Basykes - Flickr

"The proportion of all donations coming from people under the age of 30 has fallen from 8% to 3%" - The

Economist, April 6th 2013

"Texting money to charities is convenient and popular with young people. Nearly one-third

of contributions are made this way."-Nigel Lewis

So its time to re engage!

Photo: jseliger2 - Flickr

With "...mega charity events like Twestival,12 for 12k, Tweetsgiving and CrisisCamps...!"

Photo: By Petesimon - Flickr

Cyberspace has become as impactful as any

space.

Photo: By ghindo Flickr

Through "organizing, fund-raising,

communications, training, and

proselytizing," many causes are

mobilized. - Eric Sterner

Unfortunately some hacktivists have "used cyber capabilities to attack social, political,

economic, and public institutions directly..."- Eric Sterner

Photo: By IanMurphy- Flickr

"and destroy their utility for a time." - Eric Sterner

Photo: By isafmedia- Flickr

"cyber break-ins at STRATFOR led to the theft of 60,000 credit cards, which the hackers then used to make $700,000 in

fraudulent charges" - Eric Sterner

Photo :By Images_of_Money - Flickr

Some activists are constantly in motion,

raising funds and making a difference

While others need to remember that "Facebook "likes" don't save lives."

-Duncan Geere

Photo: By Thos003- Flickr

Micro Sponsorship allows for "an enterprise to be sustained on the backs of its most passionate

supporters" - Zachary M. Seward

Photo: By Randy Son Of Robert- Flickr

While "everyday people using their spare cycles to create

content, solve problems, even do corporate R & D" is the future of

crowdsourcing. -Jeff howe

Photo: By James Cridlan-Flickr

so the question remains...

what will you do in the digital age?

Sources- In order of quote appearance

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2322902/The-amazing-haul-seven-cyber-hackers-stole-45-million-just-10-hours-included-Rolex-watches-Porsche--German-police-arrest-suspects.html

http://mashable.com/2013/03/26/non-profit-fundraising/

http://www.economist.com/news/britain/21575803-how-get-young-people-give-charity-can-you-spare-text

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media-network/media-network-blog/2013/apr/18/digital-media-philanthropy-fundraising

http://mashable.com/2010/04/09/charity-events-social-media/

http://www.marshall.org/pdf/materials/1087.pdf http://www.marshall.org/pdf/materials/1087.pdfhttp://www.marshall.org/pdf/materials/1087.pdf

http://www.marshall.org/pdf/materials/1087.pdf

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-05/4/unicef-slacktivism

http://www.niemanlab.org/2009/03/minnpost-seeks-micro-sponsors-for-blog-at-10-and-25-a-pop/

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.06/crowds.html

All images obtained through Flickr and Creative Commons

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