Last week the not for profit organization, Invisible Children launched a social media campaign urging the US to "Stop Kony in 2012," with this 30 min video:
This campaign gained a large amount of publicity and awareness by reaching 21 million YouTube viewers in less than a week by utilizing various social media outlets. This blog is not about Invisible Children’s intended message, gaining awareness about the issue of Joseph Kony’s actions. However, I wish to examine the ethical issue concerning the organization’s questionable actions, which have raised much controversy among bloggers and news media.
Basically the tactics of this video, and information divulged as well as the organization's funding allocations have been questioned. If you are an organization like this, is it okay ethically to exaggerate facts as a means to a greater end? Their biggest objective was to create awareness by making Kony famous and to make his name associated with the child abuse in Africa. I think they clearly did, and in remarkably fast time. In fact this case is a great testament of the power of social media. After seeing the mass Kony postings on my FB news feed from friends who have never taken an interest in any cause before, I began to question the authenticity. When I posted on my wall the counter-action blog urging people to do more research on the organization, the cause, and what happens to the funds.... I was met with outrage. People saying I needed to be proud of country for making a change by joining together, proving that you dont have to be rich or famous to make a difference. I just think its sad how people follow along sheepishly without making any decisions or questions themselves.
Anyways this blog helps discuss some of the things I had issues with, as well as answers from IC.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/reality-check-with-polly-curtis/2012/mar/08/kony-2012-what-s-the-story?fb=native
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