This week is focused on using data and viral social media stunts for human benefit over profit.
UN Refugee Agency Using Big Data to Find Smarter Solutions
Summary: The UN announced a partnership between its United Nations Refugee Agency (under UNHCR, UN Human Rights Council) and World Bank to establish a new agency centered around collecting, analyzing, and disseminating better info around refugees. Anonymized data will be collected to improve the lives of affected refugees.
Opinion: Even I was getting sick of hearing how many companies were willing to exploit my personal data through Facebook. If the data is going to be collected, I would be proud as a marketer (and human) to see data being used to help people who have already undergone so much.
Summary: Much like the ice bucket challenge to raise money for ALS research, the lemon face challenge challenges people to eat a slice of lemon and record their reaction to raise donations for an organization that aims to cure a terminal brain cancer that affects young children known as Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG).
Opinion: With so many viral videos focused on negative/voyeuristic aspects of the world, raising awareness in a positive light is a viral sensation I welcome. Pucker up!
