In a recent personal post I suggested that potentially social networks could help change the world.
In the US the following advertisement has now been retracted. I am still  stunned that it went out in the first place.

The following video shows how social media, especially through Twitter seems to have lead the campaign to ensure its removal.

The company concerned have now provided a public apology via their website and have suggested that it will take time for associated printed adverts to be recalled from new stands.

As I said in my personal post, we have the power to create a lobby for change. If enough of us unite and rally for the eradication of poverty we can win.

Let us take a look at another example. Certain High Street retailers are relying on local agents in developing countries to manage the production of clothes. The profit is realised when you see the knock down sales price during the up and coming sales. In the developed world our expectations on price are conditioned. We need to demand accountability from CEO’s who should be rewarded on ethical production.

Just watch the following featuring a garment trader middleman & under age workers …

In a world where we have so much power at our finger tips, it is now time to use it for social change.

People rush to get a bargain I wish the same energy was in our hearts to make poverty history!

In the past I’ve mentioned ning - a customisable Facebook type interface. What is really fascinating is the advent and progression of Habbo Hotel over the last 8 years. In Habbo’s case we see that it is age targeted, for example a place for 13-16 year olds.

I believe that Sulake is the company behind Habbo and other Social networking tools. What was really commendable was the way that they organised probably one of the world’s biggest on-line marches to support the UN International Day of Peace on Sunday 21st of September. They counted over 32,000 participants from 32 different countries. An excellent use and demonstration of the power of the Internet.

I also found it interesting to observe that from an interview article with Timo Soinen, CEO of development company Sulake

64% of British kids who use Habbo report that they have friends they’ve never met offline according to your Global Youth Survey. This freaks a lot of people out. What do you think has allowed this phenomenon to become possible?
The whole concept of friendship has new meanings in the online world - in many social online services, having a lot of friends on your friendlist can be considered to be a cool thing. This can also be witnessed in how adults use Facebook and other social networks. When asked about “real friends”, teens’ answers are usually between 4 and 10. But for online services, the answer can be over a 100…

In summary, we’re seeing that the potential for on-line media / new media / interactive web environments is gaining popularity with Teens. No wonder advertisers are concerned about losing revenues from traditional channels. For example, Business Life, August 2008 in an article by Tim Burt entitled, ‘A Question of Survival’, starts off by saying:

A summer of sport and talent shows may keep the wolf from the door but what is the future for network TV…
… Record numbers of TV executives are leaving the industry or seeking a haven in new media companies.

From a US perspective, primetime audiences have contracted from 90% of households a generation ago to about 33% today.

Ironically, it is blockbuster shows, major sporting events and major reality TV shows that are keeping audiences. For example, programmes like, So you think you can dance, Britain’s got talent, The Apprentice, X-Factor and Strictly come dancing, (NB there are international equivalents of these shows too) are successful in keeping audiences hooked. I use the term ironic as a huge audience demographic for some of these programmes are teenagers. Therefore, in the future they will have to have two windows open on their computers, one with a discussion about the show in their virtual world and another with a ‘live’ reality TV programme with a pay per vote option.

Maybe the advert time will be the only time they will have to chat with their parents or carry on chatting with their virtual friends, 90-95% of whom they have probably never met!