Digital Future Report Finds that Online Communities Promote Activism

If you're wondering whether or not your nonprofit should have an online presence and strategy, read the 2007 Digital Future Report from the USC Annenberg School's Center for the Digital Future.

According to their press release, the study found that online communities are a, "catalyst for connection and activism":   

"Online communities and offline action -- The Digital Future Project found that involvement in online communities leads to offline actions. More than one-fifth of online community members (20.3 percent) take actions offline at least once a year that are related to their online community. (An 'online community' is defined as a group that shares thoughts or ideas, or works on common projects, through electronic communication only.)

Social activism ? Participation in online communities leads to social activism. Almost two- thirds of online community members who participate in social causes through the Internet (64.9 percent) say they are involved in causes that were new to them when they began participating on the Internet. And more than 40 percent (43.7 percent) of online community members participate more in social activism since they started participating in online communities."

From your keyboard to God's ears: Online prayer requests take flight

The emergence of the Internet as a place for prayer is not surprising. A Pew Research Center study published last week said 89 percent of teens and 71 percent of their parents believe the Internet and technology like cell phones make their lives easier.

Religious Web sites in particular are gaining popularity. According to comScore Media Metrix, a company that measures Internet audiences, religious sites attracted an estimated 22 million visitors in September. Sites like GodTube.com, a Christian YouTube.com, saw a 973 percent increase in traffic between July and August, according to comScore.