 |
| Image via The Atlantic |
Over the past few weeks peoples’ Facebook and Twitter newsfeeds have
been flooded with videos of friends dousing themselves in ice water to support ALS.
The challenge goes like this: friends nominate each other to tape a video of
themselves dumping ice water on their heads within 24 hours or they have to
donate $100 to ALS.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is
a neurodegenerative disorder that affects brain cells and eventually leads to
total body paralysis, although the mind remains intact. This disease affects thousands across
America, and life expectancy averages about two to five years after diagnosis.
The New York
Times reported that donations to the ALS
Association have exponentially increased over the last month. “As of Sunday, the association said it
had received $13.3 million in donations since July 29. It said there were about
260,000 new donors.”
So what is the problem with millions of dollars in new
donations as a result of a social media trend?
Many are criticizing
the fad because people are just doing the videos to show that they can survive
dumping themselves with ice water, almost as an ego boost. And who is checking
on the people who do not take the challenge and are supposed to make a
donation? Since the donation is an alternative to dumping water on themselves,
people do not want to lose the money so they take the challenge.
Although the basic idea of the trend is for a good cause, like
anything that reaches the masses, it eventually lost its purpose. Now, it has
just become a way to increase social media credibility and gain followers
across social media platforms.
Forbes spoke
about “slactivism” and how things like this do not really help the cause in the
long run. “It’s a
substitute for real long-term involvement and engagement. It’s all about
showing off for social media. It won’t change a thing, or cure ALS or ease the
suffering of those with the disease.”
Most of the videos do not even mention or discuss ALS and how
it affects the body, so how is this helping to “strike out ALS”? Instead of
having substantive content, the videos are simply a viral trend.
 |
| Pete Frates |
So how did an ice bucket, a camera, and social media all become
intertwined with ALS? That can be credited to Boston College baseball player
Pete Frates, who is battling Lou Gehrig’s disease. He made one of the first
videos in the name of ALS, and his friends and family have helped transform the
challenge into a charity fundraiser to help spread awareness.
So, is the ALS ice bucket challenge being completed with the best of
intentions, or are people using it as an excuse to watch their friends scream
from shock?
Whether the intentions are noble or not, the ALS Association has
raised millions to help fight a disease that is affecting thousands across the
country, and people that have never heard of the disease are talking about it. Check
out their website for more
information regarding donations and learn more about the disease.
Even the Kennedy's took on the challenge
