Will online volunteers transform our economic recovery?

[Erin]

There's a lot of discussion and chatter about the effect of the social community and economy as a whole. There are nay sayers who devalue the impact that the online world has on the offline world. For me, it's bubkus. We all have our own power to change the world, and coming together in any way, online or off, and joining forces to change the world can only increase our impact. I have always believed that using the internet as a tool to implement social change was - well, a no brainer! But today I found this article, and it was wonderful to see proof of it! I wanted to share the story I found in hopes that everyone else gets as much satisfaction as I did, that what we do here, and on other volunteer/inspirational sites as well, IS in fact, making a difference - and turning some heads as well!

Will online volunteers transform our economic recovery?
from Groundswell by Josh Bernoff

I've started to write for the DigitalNext blog on Advertising Age. This is my first post for them.

The last 12 months have seen not only a severe economic contraction but also a surge in online social activity. According to U.S. consumer surveys from Forrester Research, the proportion of online people consuming social content at least once a month grew from 48% in 2007 to 69% in 2008, and the growth shows no signs of stopping.

This is already transforming the world. As Tim O'Reilly has pointed out, Web 2.0 transforms. Classifieds become Monster.com, which gets undermined by Craigslist. Britannica fades in favor of Encarta, which gets pulverized by Wikipedia. Photo film becomes Snapfish, which is swallowed by Flickr. In each case the end state is free, people-generated and revenue-challenged.

A pessimist sees value erosion. But the value's not gone, it's just different. The consumer/creators get paid for their contribution in love, admiration, pride and a sense of belonging.

The online social world is driven by free, volunteer activity. Now add a horde of unemployed and underemployed digital talent, both those laid off and new college graduates who, when they reach the doorstep of the job market, find a sign that says "Sorry, We're Closed." While they wait for better jobs to appear, they're going to invent online tools that supplant the current ones -- tools whose modus vivendi is emotional, not financial.

What will they transform? Just about any economic activity is fair game. Transportation? Loans? Education? While the lack of available credit is grit in the gears of capitalism, there's no shortage of psychic income to exchange, or people with talent they can't sell right now. The sites these whizzes create may barely make enough coin to support the person who programmed them, but they'll undermine real money-making sites and businesses.

Amid the rubble of foreclosures and layoffs, this may just be a little green shoot that transforms the recovery. But in this new economy it will be reputation, support and sharing -- not just money -- that will make the whole thing go 'round.

Copyright Acknowledgment:
By: Josh Bernoff at Groundswell
Original Location: http://blogs.forrester.com/groundswell/2009/03/will-online-vol.html

[Erin]

ok just to comment on my own post, which is a bit cheesy but...

I think the answer is yes. Yes, volunteers will change the face of our economy. Volunteers by definition have a positive outlook, ingenuity, energy, and a resistance to the negatives. They're the type of people who come up with new ways to overcome old problems. Volunteers understand that challenges are obstacles, not stop signs. As a society, we are seeing an increase in volunteer activity across the board. The hard times are already bringing out the best in people...

There's nothing that can't be done, as long as - like Janie said - we just believe.

[Judy Vorfeld]

Erin, you make some good points! I agree. There are people like us all over the Web, and little by little we will change the face of the economy. One of the people I most admire is Ed Brenegar. He's started a Ning community called "Say Thanks Every Day," and it's all about (believe it or not) giving.

We can change the face of our economy!

[Erin]

Judy, part of the "chatter" is that there has been an absolute explosion of networks and website that have popped up in the last year that focus on how every single person can change the world a little at a time - and provide a place for people to come together, to distill and magnify the individual member's impact. I have not seen the site you mention, ( I will though!) But there's Daryn's community here, there's the 29 Day Giving Challenge, Wish Upon A Hero, Britt Bravo's Have Fun Do Good, The Bump Experiment... and literally hundreds of others. It's amazing how hard times inspire people to reach out to help those around them. Because on a certain level, each of us recognizes our own power, and the value of the economy of generosity! :)

[Judy Vorfeld]

I look forward to exploring those sites, Erin. Another site that is about to be transformed is Thank You News, where they only broadcast positive news. I was just approved as an author there, and am excited about how I can spread the word about how we can change the world a little at a time!

Have a great weekend.

[Erin]

Congratulation Judy! How wonderful!