Talking about social media has become so mainstream my head hurts every time I hear about an upcoming conference on “how to use social media in a business context” or when I see an article in an business paper with the title “the power of social media”. I was telling myself get over it, social media is here to stay, it’s been done, it works, bravo.
But then a story like this happens, and I realize that the power of social media is a big deal after all.
A couple of weeks ago, someone close to me who grew up with a severe heart condition saw his health deteriorate fast. His doctors all agreed: only a heart transplant can save him. The only things is, Philippe El-Hage lives in a Lebanon (where there isn’t enough equipment to perform a heart transplant) and he does not have medical insurance. It order to live, he has to go to Paris to have his operation, which is to be paid in full by his family. Needless to say, they don’t have the required 220 000 euros (minimum) to pay for the surgery.
This is where Facebook comes in. The groupe Un coeur pour Philippe was created in the morning of wednesday May 19th. Two and a half days later, there are over 3,600 members (by the time you read this, the figure will probably be much higher) many of whom have made donations through paypal. We don’t have exact figures yet, but we know the donations are in the tens of thousands, if not more than a hundred thousand dollars. Events are being organized throughout Lebanon, in Paris, Montreal etc…
Can Facebook help save a life? If yes then all I can say is that in the end, social media does deserve all the hype. The REAL power of social media is not just in allowing people to connect or allowing businesses to create awareness their brand or product. It is still about gathering people from around the world to support a just cause.
If you want to help, join the group and donate through this paypal page. Thanks!
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The REAL power of social media – or can Facebook save a life?
Talking about social media has become so mainstream my head hurts every time I hear about an upcoming conference on “how to use social media in a business context” or when I see an article in an business paper with the title “the power of social media”. I was telling myself get over it, social media is here to stay, it’s been done, it works, bravo.
But then a story like this happens, and I realize that the power of social media is a big deal after all.
A couple of weeks ago, someone close to me who grew up with a severe heart condition saw his health deteriorate fast. His doctors all agreed: only a heart transplant can save him. The only things is, Philippe El-Hage lives in a Lebanon (where there isn’t enough equipment to perform a heart transplant) and he does not have medical insurance. It order to live, he has to go to Paris to have his operation, which is to be paid in full by his family. Needless to say, they don’t have the required 220 000 euros (minimum) to pay for the surgery.
Can Facebook help save a life? If yes then all I can say is that in the end, social media does deserve all the hype. The REAL power of social media is not just in allowing people to connect or allowing businesses to create awareness their brand or product. It is still about gathering people from around the world to support a just cause.
If you want to help, join the group and donate through this paypal page. Thanks!