Care2
Encyclopedia
Care2 is a social network website that was founded by Randy Paynter in 1998 to help connect activists from around the world. It has a membership of more than 17 million people.
Care2's stated mission is to help people make the world a better place by connecting them with the individuals, organizations and responsible businesses making an impact.
by filling out a profile
with personal information, as in most social networking sites, but Care2 also asks for information about its members' involvement in activism
. The social interactions on Care2 revolve around groups that connect people who care about similar issues. Internet petitions and news articles posted by members are also frequently used.
Care2's stated mission is to help people make the world a better place by connecting them with the individuals, organizations and responsible businesses making an impact.
Overview
Care2 members create an online identityOnline identity
An online identity, internet identity, or internet persona is a social identity that an Internet user establishes in online communities and websites...
by filling out a profile
Profile
- Computing and technology :* Profile , a concept in Unified Modeling Language* Apple ProFile, a hard drive* User profile refers to the computer representation of user information...
with personal information, as in most social networking sites, but Care2 also asks for information about its members' involvement in activism
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
. The social interactions on Care2 revolve around groups that connect people who care about similar issues. Internet petitions and news articles posted by members are also frequently used.
Features
- Member profiles and groups to facilitate social networking
- Petitions that any citizen can create and distribute
- Petitions created and promoted by Care2 in partnership with nonprofit organizations
- "Click-to-DonateClick-to-donate siteA click-to-donate site is a website where users can click a button to generate a donation for a charity or cause. The money for the donation comes from advertisers whose banners are displayed each time a user clicks the button...
Races" to generate donations to charities (from ad sponsors), just by clicking - Free E-Cards (which also generate free donations)
- Citizen News Network—members post news stories themselves and vote on which ones should be displayed
- Blogs
- Free photo sharingPhoto sharingPhoto sharing is the publishing or transfer of a user's digital photos online, thus enabling the user to share them with others . This function is provided through both websites and applications that facilitate the upload and display of images...
with unlimited upload space - Email newsletters and "e-alerts" about various issues such as the environmentEnvironment (biophysical)The biophysical environment is the combined modeling of the physical environment and the biological life forms within the environment, and includes all variables, parameters as well as conditions and modes inside the Earth's biosphere. The biophysical environment can be divided into two categories:...
and human rightsHuman rightsHuman rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national... - "Care2 JobFinder," which lists jobs with progressiveProgressivismProgressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
companies - A "Green Living" channel with tips on living healthier, more sustainable lives
- Various content channels on topics such as Global Warming, Women's Issues and the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election
- "Butterfly Rewards" virtual currencyVirtual currencyVirtual currency is used to purchase virtual goods within a variety of online communities; which include social networking websites, virtual worlds and online gaming sites....
system in which "butterfly credits" can be gained through 17 types of activities and redeemed on one or more of 13 humanitarian gifts to which Care2 makes real-world monetary donations. Credits are not exchangeable for or equivalent to real-world currency.
See also
- Click-to-donate siteClick-to-donate siteA click-to-donate site is a website where users can click a button to generate a donation for a charity or cause. The money for the donation comes from advertisers whose banners are displayed each time a user clicks the button...
- List of social networking websites
- EnvironmentalismEnvironmentalismEnvironmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...