IB LangLit 2018: (Social) Media and Pop Culture: Social Media Campaigns: #IceBucketChallenge

Social Media Campaigns: #IceBucketChallenge

1. The ice bucket challenge started from a golfer – Chris Kennedy. He was nominated by a friend to do the ice bucket challenge. The purpose of the challenge initially was not to fight the disease ALS and it was not tied to any of the specific charities but to do the challenge and choose which charity he would like to donate to. Chris first chose a local charity that is helping children with cancer in the area but then he changed into ALS because a relative is suffering from this disease.

2. ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was to raise the awareness of the disease ALS which stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. It started as an internet trend on youtube where famous stars doing the challenge. It went viral in the summer of 2014. It was to encourage people to donate for the research to cure of the disease.

3. I have found the evidence of the ice bucket challenge on almost all the social media platform such as Facebook, Instagram… etc and on several radio broadcasting platforms.

5. The hashtag campaign has raised over 115 million dollars towards the study of ALS. Shortly after the campaign Scientists discovered a new ALS gene, NEK1, known to be among the most common genetic contributors of the disease and now they are developing drugs and medicines to treat the disease and a portion of the money will also be used to improve the treatment of patients as a final result of the ice bucket challenge.

6. I sorted this as an example of slactivism because it went viral due to people’s desire to become a member of a trend and the little to no effort it required to do so. Although some people actually donated to the cause, most of them did not even know the purpose of the campaign, and they rather used it to gain popularity of fame online. Although sorting this as an example of activism is not as bad as a choice, since it brought so much donation and aid to the association and it ended up gaining $100millions dollars in total, even finding the important gene for the cure.