It’s wild to think that while humans have lived on earth for nearly 300,000 years, we’ve only been able to communicate on a massive global scale for the last 585 years thanks to the 15th century invention of the printing press.
For the first time in history people were able to share their stories, experiences and hypotheses on a global scale through mass publishing. However, as technology advanced and the radio became popularized in the 1920s and subsequently, the television in the 1950s, print’s effectiveness as a communication medium began to erode.
Fifty years later, the advent of social media has dramatically furthered our ability to not only communicate, but to truly connect across international internet service providers. For the first time, the average person is able to document and share their life freely and instantaneously with a global audience, while brands and organizations can engage in a two-way dialogue with consumers worldwide.
To help broaden the human perspective and raise support for the efforts of global change-makers, we’ve compiled a list of some of our go-to social media feeds to follow below.
U.S. Agency for Global Media
One of the most honest news resources of the 21st century is this organization right here. To paraphrase their mission and historical work, since World War II this organization has been committed to inform and engage “people around the world in support of freedom and democracy.”
Stay tuned to their Instagram feed for the most up to date news and to learn what global news is being shared around the world.
World Learning
Improving accessibility and creating inclusive learning and professional environments for all are the two main missions driving World Learning for the past 85 years. Their multifaceted approach has five key elements: experiential learning, leadership development, inclusive practices, innovation, and grants management and they collaborate globally and locally to foster valuable and safe cultural exchanges.
They often share lesson-packed free resources, skill-sharing events and inspiring international stories to inspire passion for learning and support around equitable education.
Follow them on Twitter to jumpstart your worldwide learning journey.
Food for the Hungry
Food for the Hungry is a Christian humanitarian relief organization that works in over 20 regions around the world to end poverty, regardless of its origins in an ongoing or immediate crisis.
To excerpt the most recent Summit Session recap published on the blog: Food for the Hungry staff members and volunteers have made humanitarian relief and development their mission since 1971.
If you follow their Twitter account you’ll receive real-time updates on how you can help provide support and read stories about community resilience.
Global Heritage Fund
Indigenous and regional culture must be preserved at all costs as globalization becomes the normal progression of growth for the modern business world. As stated on their website, the Global Heritage Fund was founded in 2002 in response to this accelerated reality.
It reads, “Global Heritage Fund was founded on the premise that cultural heritage protection can catalyze responsible social and economic development.”
Follow their Instagram to see how they “transform local communities by investing in global heritage.”
International League of Conservation Photographers
Though the creative digital team at the iLCP are a lean, but mighty team of 3, they provide media partnership, professional development and travel opportunities to amateur and professional nature and culture conservation photographers.
We’ve learned how they organize their assets, we’ve learned how they approach visual content storytelling and digital content strategy, but when we just want to learn what they’re working on, we turn to their Instagram feed.
Give them a follow to learn more about their work.
Conservation Fund
Now more than ever, protecting the environment worldwide is critical. To stay current on land and water conservation efforts in the United State, we follow The Conservation Fund since they’re a team of dedicated experts who have been working since 1985 to protect over 8.5 million acres of land across all 50 states.
Throw them a follow on Instagram to get the news about what’s happening to the land near you.
Special Olympics
We’re just going to let Special Olympics’ Senior Director of Content and Storytelling, Sydnye White’s words inspire your thumb to press ‘Follow,’ — “We are a sports movement for people with intellectual disabilities, so we use the power of sport to spread the message of inclusion.…On the sports side, we have over 6.7 million athletes and unified partners around the world; athletes have intellectual disabilities, unified partners are teammates who do not have intellectual disabilities. We also have robust programming with health, education and leadership which all tie back to our sports platform.”
In addition to promoting their global events 365 days a year, they recently announced a partnership with Microsoft on Twitter to launch Unified Classrooms—”a unique, digital classroom filled with free, relevant, accessible, and engaging resources to help K-12 educators address the social-emotional skills today’s youth need.”
Support their joint mission and pass on the news!
Discover Puerto Rico
After Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017, Discover Puerto Rico, a destination marketing organization was established to “bring prosperity to Puerto Rico by collaboratively positioning our diverse and unique Island as a premier destination for leisure, business, and events,” ultimately aiming to create sustainable economic growth for the island and its citizens.
Although COVID-19’s fluctuating travel restrictions has created instability for many regions that rely on tourism for economic growth, the Discover Puerto Rico team has consistently risen above the challenges, creating unique destination-based travel experiences and excursions.
Follow their Instagram for your next chance to win a stay-cation or a vacation (even better!)
TAXA Outdoors
TAXA Outdoors is a modular, mobile habitat company that provides utilitarian travelers the opportunity to travel with minimal gear and maximum comfort and durability. They have resources on their blog for beginners and advanced outdoor enthusiasts like a guide for visiting national parks or tips for camping with dogs. They’ve even created a community of ambassadors for others to learn from — tips and tricks for setting up the TAXA products, and also just on-the-road advice.
Check out their Instagram to enjoy other adventurers’ chronicles from the outdoors.
A little outdoor ASMR, anyone?
Your Turn!
Tag us (@psforbrands) in photos and Twitter threads that help you learn and grow, or share your story with us!
For more scroll-stopping social media accounts to follow, read more:
The Best University Photographers to Follow on Social Media
