Giving Compass' Take:

• Social media has played a significant role in driving large-scale campaigns that center on activism in the private sector. 

• How are you contributing to or supporting social media campaigns with your activism or charitable giving?

• Learn more about how social media brings about social change.

Activism is evolving, and technological advances have created new ways for individuals to make change. On social media, the ability to harness the power of the masses also has helped redefine the baseline of transparency expected for corporations. Consumers today expect serious accountability from the companies they buy products from and invest in.

Businesses are learning that they must proactively build trust to earn people’s hard-earned dollars, whether that is at the cash register, in the stock market or on the timeline.

Historically, you had to be a shareholder in a company to vote on issues that affected the company's financials. Today, you just need a Twitter account to have your voice be heard.

While some have accused modern society’s civic muscles of atrophying, citizens have made it clear that they require two-way dialogues with companies in the private sector.

The March For Our Lives movement has continued to be active on Twitter, helped organize a local chapter on Facebook and created extremely compelling content on YouTube, such as the video Generation Lockdown.

Another organization and powerful example of a social media campaign turned movement is #GrabYourWallet, which Shannon Coulter started on October 11, 2016. After the infamous Trump Access Hollywood tapes were released, she created a list of all companies that carried Trump products. This simple Google spreadsheet has been seen more than 1 billion times on social media. So far, over 70 companies have made their way off the list after divesting from Trump’s business interests and no longer profiting off a relationship with the Trump family.

Grab Your Wallet has grown into a broader nonprofit that aims to continue furthering corporate responsibility. They currently are working on #ForceTheIssue, a new campaign aimed at getting 900 publicly traded companies to stop using the practice of forced arbitration for sexual harassment.

Read the full article about social media can influence activism in capital markets by Megan Morrice at GreenBiz.