It's no longer a new thing in our society the way social media has gone deep in changing the normal way people practise charity. Before social media was established, it was very difficult for someone who was willing and ready to help a person in need easily. The reason was because there was no tangible means of reaching out to someone over a long distance, talk less of noticing those who were desperately in need of help and support through charity, especially those who lived far away. But with the help of social media today, it has created a space where someone can easily showcase his or her bad condition and seek help through different social media platforms.

Today, with just a single post, one can be able to reach thousands of viewers, and through the process, they might get help from someone who is genuinely willing to help. The person will also be able to reach them through the social media handle where they published the post.

Image generated using chat GPT

This is the beneficial side of how social media influences charity, and also how social media has filled the gap between helpers and those in need. This is as easy as a person deciding to make a video recording or take pictures showing the real-life condition of what he or she is passing through.

For example, it may be how a disaster affected them, how they are finding it difficult to feed every day due to poverty, or sometimes someone sick in the hospital who cannot even afford to pay hospital bills. Social media can help this kind of individual get help if their story touches the heart of a responsible viewer, and once the viewer feels pity and steps into the role of a Good Samaritan by providing solutions to the problem through charitable giving, then it becomes an advantage of social media.

I have also seen and watched several videos where some people captured themselves offering charity to the needy on social media. One fact about this type of charity is that I have realized most people showcase it online only to encourage others and impart more knowledge about the importance of helping those in need, like people with disabilities or those in the hospital.

Again, some people also do the same thing, but their aim and reason for showcasing it online is so that everyone can see the number of people they helped, only for their own selfish interests. I think they use this to cover themselves as good people in society and also try to position themselves as people with a good reputation. Well, I believe the best way to practise charity is not by showing people what you are offering to others. For instance, if I am someone desperately in need and the person who came to support me places a condition that he or she has to record the process, and later I find myself going viral on Facebook or any other social media platform where I am being helped in the name of charity, honestly, I will not feel comfortable about it.

Another bad side of how social media influences charity is how scammers use it to promote their fraudulent activities. Most scammers use social media to share fake stories just to convince people to trust them, and through the process, they use it to deceive innocent users. I have also experienced several scam attempts. There was a situation where a new number messaged me on Telegram. The profile showed a woman's picture, which indicated that the person was a lady. She greeted me, and I also replied with greetings. Within a few minutes, she started telling me stories about how she lost her job and did not have any means of feeding herself, and that I should help her. Immediately at that moment, nothing came to my mind except scam. So I decided to ask her a question: what about your parents, your mom and dad? What about your brothers or sisters, or any of your relatives?

My take on this is:

Social media has contributed a lot in filling the gap between helpers and those in need, while also making it very easy for people to find help quickly. It has become a better experience for everyone in today’s world compared to how it was before social media innovation. And to anyone who is ready and willing to help someone they may come across online seeking support, I may advise that, as much as you are eager to give a helping hand, you should also be very vigilant to avoid being scammed.

Showcasing charity online should not be a problem or cause any harm if it is done to encourage charitable giving. I think doing that also helps create awareness for people to understand how others are in pain and facing difficult times based on how life is treating them. And if showcasing charity online is done for this purpose, then there is nothing wrong with it. But if it is practiced only for selfish interests, then such an act is condemnable.

"This is my response to Hive-Reachout Weekly Prompt 100‎‎‎"

Thank you so much for taking your precious time to visit my blog and for your continuous support ❤️

Hope to See you soon 🥰...

@Youngezeblinzz
GREATNESS IN GOD 👑