What is SocialTxt?

The SocialTxt messaging platform uses the 120 "unused" characters of a 'please call me' (PCM) message to deliver a social call to action. Messages include a variety of user responses including directive to call the Helpline, SMS the Helpline, receive the location of the nearest VCT center, take a quiz or poll, or click onto a WAP (mobile internet) portal to learn more.

SocialTxt encourages individuals to access information that will allow them to make informed decisions about their health (and potentially, financial, economic and social security). This tool can be used by non-profit and for-profit partners to create and deliver effective messaging to enhance access to information and services for typically underserved populations.

How does it work?

SocialTxt uses PCM space as an interactive SMS billboard. In partnership with leading network provider MTN, SocialTxt currently leverages approximately 1 million HIV-AIDS-messages each day (from 1 Oct 2008 to 29 Sept 2009) to link South Africans to the National AIDS Helpline. The SocialTxt messages include a variety of user responses including directive to call the Helpline, SMS the Helpline, receive the location of the nearest VCT center, take a quiz or poll, or click onto a WAP (mobile internet) portal to learn more.

Results

SocialTxt has demonstrated that the PCM platform drives behavior change. In August 2007, SocialTxt increased call volumes to the National AIDS Helpline by over 200% (>1500 additional calls per day). In a follow up study two weeks later, one call centre indicated that 41% of its users had accessed HIV services following a SocialTxt campaign. Our current work with MTN, is demonstrating even greater returns.

Social Actions aggregates peer-to-peer social change campaigns so that individuals, organizations, and 3rd-party developers can find, support and mashup grassroots solutions to local and global problems.

View the widget we are using to promote the mashup proposal.

Test drive the current version of the Social Actions mashup

Social Actions brings together active campaigns from 29+ platforms into a single open API and search interface. The aggregator uses mark-up in the feeds to identify semantic data relating to the location, subject, time-frame, and goal of each campaign.

This innovation permits prospective donors, individuals and web apps to run queries on and map visually the dataset as a whole. We see a huge potential in the 29+ platforms to promote peer-to-peer social change. We’re pursuing this work to amplify their impact and to bring about a world in which everyone is a changemaker.

Here's a screen shot of the front end:

Social action platforms that are currently contributing content include: BringLight, Care2, Change.org, ChangingthePresent, DemocracyInAction, DonorsChoose, Firstgiving, Fundable, GiveMeaning, GlobalGiving, Helpalot, Kiva, MicroGiving, PincGiving, PledgeBank, Razoo, SixDegrees, ThePoint, and ZaZengo.

• Stories Matter. According to recent research by Wharton professor Deborah Small, stories are far better than statistics at generating an emotional response that inspires giving.
• Pictures = 1,000 Words. “Fund-raising appeals do best when they are crafted around a single gripping image." (The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 7/17/07)

This project is meant to make social actions easily added to any blog or website. It's a widget that displays social actions RSS feed in a 170x400px sized rectangle made using http://www.widgetbox.com/, its color scheme and dimensions can be easily customized, and it can be added to a variety of publishing applications and social networking sites.