Viral generosity trends of early 2010s fade as internet culture shifts
6 reported
According to a Vox report, the ice bucket challenge of 2014 and other viral giving trends of the early 2010s represented a peak in online generosity that has since declined. The article states that social media platforms like Facebook once fostered earnest, apolitical giving, but changes in algorithms and a fractured internet have made such generosity less common. Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett launched the Giving Pledge in 2010, which at its peak included about one in seven American billionaires pledging to donate at least half their fortunes. However, the report notes that fewer Americans have chosen to give to charity each year for much of the past decade, and billionaires appear to be giving away a diminishing share of their fortunes. The article attributes this shift to an attention crisis and a decline in generosity as a collective cultural value, with initiatives like the Giving Pledge losing steam.
What’s reported
The ice bucket challenge in 2014 raised money for ALS research and involved participants like Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Justin Bieber, David Lynch, and Donald Trump.
Asha Curran co-founded GivingTuesday in 2012, which raised at least $10 million for charity in its first year.
The Giving Pledge, launched in 2010 by Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett, had 130 signatories by 2014, about one in seven American billionaires.
Aaron Dorfman, CEO of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, criticized the Giving Pledge at its launch, saying billionaires give too slowly and self-servingly.
Scott Harrison, founder of Charity: Water, said fundraising has become harder in recent years because giving is “not on trend.”
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti in January 2010, leading to increased charitable giving, including $8 million raised by the Red Cross within a week.
Key figures
Bill Gates, co-founder of the Giving Pledge
Melinda French Gates, co-founder of the Giving Pledge
Warren Buffett, co-founder of the Giving Pledge
Asha Curran, co-founder of GivingTuesday
Aaron Dorfman, CEO of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy
Scott Harrison, founder of Charity: Water
Mark Zuckerberg, challenged Bill Gates to the ice bucket challenge
Elon Musk, participated in the ice bucket challenge
Chris Anderson of TED, challenged by Bill Gates
Ryan Seacrest, challenged by Bill Gates
Sources: vox.com
