World Peace in 5 Words: Social Media Style

It easy to be rude on social media. From pointing out typos and grammatical errors to full-fledged SHOUTING matches, social media can be a breeding ground for no-holds barred conversations and disrespectful behavior. Did we forget that other people can see these interactions? Surely not!

I’d like to note a change in the tides on social media that I personally hope will continue: peaceful and positive interactions that bring about change in real life.

Since the United States Institute of Peace partnered with a social media firm in 2013, I’ve noticed a growing trend of positivism across social media that’s bringing a silver lining to the cloudy climate and leaving behind the negative responses spewed by irritated and irate users.

So, while most of us are posting selfies and pictures of our cats or our food, we can also use the powerful influence of social media to increase awareness of global issues and bring about peaceful responses to world problems.

Why is this working on social media? World peace in five simple words:

1. 1. AwarenessSocial media is the ideal stomping ground for awareness. If you play your cards right (yes, I’m still a Vegas gal at heart:) ), social media can balance a campaign, especially a nonprofit. Fueling the issues with a strength in voice on social media can gain true fans and followers that will not only support your cause, they will spread the word.
   2. Localization2015 has brought localization that much closer to home (ahem, pun intended). If you have a peaceful cause, it could be a community or ecological problem that needs to be addressed to the right people: those who live nearby. With Google claiming more localized searches than ever in 2015, this community outreach is highly likely.
   3. GlobalizationOn the other side of the coin, localizing isn’t all useful social media tools can do. Taking a campaign global has its domino effect as well. While locals are hit harder by ecological events, gaining national and global attention gains both funding and followers in new and surprising ways.
   4. ReachNever before has the world been so connected. More people around the globe have access to computers. Even more are gaining access through smart phones and smart devices. The online reach of a peaceful campaign, if done efficiently, can have monumental results that take every aspect of a successful nonprofit campaign into account. Wersm.com reported last year there was an average of 3 million likes in just one minute on Facebook and a reported 15 million other interactions per minute on other sites.

While this massive influx of activity could also explain why our posts are becoming lost in the newsfeed, the fact remains: if done right, you have a greater chance to encourage change and broaden your reach to achieve your goals.

1. TruthThis last one is my favorite. We all like to put our best face forward on social media. But what if we were honest with each other? I don’t mean airing your dirty laundry for your aunts, uncles, and second cousins to see, (I’ll save that for my Po’d blogs), but really speaking the truth about current issues with your audience? Correct me if I’m wrong but truth is not synonymous with bitterness, anger or resentment. Truth should be a partner in peace.

What are your thoughts? Do you think the reach on social media is greatly affected by the growth in interactions? What peaceful causes would you follow on Facebook?