Digitalisation & Social Cohesion: The solutions are at hand – let’s use them!
The Internet makes the exchange of knowledge possible worldwide and opens up opportunities for simple and fast networking, contact maintenance, and social participation. Companies and people cooperate around the globe thanks to digital collaboration tools. Crowdfunding campaigns for good causes are initiated via digital services, digital platforms for neighbourhood cohesion emerge, while humanitarian aid organisations or social movements like #FridaysforFuture, #StandwithUkraine and #BlackLivesMatter reach millions of people online and find support for their causes.
Relationships, encounters, the experience of community and social cohesion today often take place in the digital space and have an impact on real life. Digital technologies and services can contribute to the experience of community, mutual support and solidarity as part of the solution. With our campaign #JOINTHESOLUTION – We are part of the solution – the Internet industry, we want to tell these stories and illuminate the positive impact of digitalisation.
Amounting to more than $2 million US dollars
In March 2022, Airbnb users all over the world booked flats in Ukraine for more than 2 million US dollars without actually travelling there, in order to financially support the local people.
Source: NPR, Status in March 2022
eco Survey: Help instead of hate – 38.4 percent donate via social media
Social media has become an integral part of our everyday lives. 50 percent of Germans over the age of 14 are regularly active on social media. At the same time, negative aspects such as hate speech or disinformation dominate the debate on social media. Especially in challenging times, the potential that social media can still offer for social interaction is becoming apparent.
Interview: Digitalisation and social cohesion
Solidarity, mutual help and more cohesion? What effects do digital technologies have on interaction in rural regions? And how can innovative digital technologies help to support and ease the lives of people in rural areas? This was investigated by the Fraunhofer Institute IESE as part of the research project “Digital Villages”. We spoke with Prof. Peter Liggesmeyer and Project Manager Steffen Hess about how digital services can act as a social kit for village life and to what extent digitalisation is part of the solution to make people’s lives in rural areas even more agreeable.
DIGITALISATION AND SOCIAL COHESION
Statements on the topic of digitalisation and social cohesion
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The pandemic has impressively demonstrated the potential for interaction that social media platforms can still unleash. Whether in the wake of the war of aggression on Ukraine, the catastrophic floods in Germany or in times of social distancing: People have used social media and digital neighbourhood services to network, support and coordinate offers of help.
Oliver SĂĽme
Chair of the Board, eco Association
Further highlights
Best Practices
Case Studies: Discover more application scenarios of how and where digitalisation is part of the solution.
Facts and figures
CO2 reduction and co.: How digital technologies help solve societal challenges
News
Press releases, interviews and news: all about our campaign #JOINTHESOLUTION: We are part of the solution – the Internet industry.