Web 2.0 and social media are having a big impact not only in the way people interact with each other but, perhaps even to a greater extent, in transforming the ways in which big media companies and advertisers will do business in the future.
The impact is real and I think we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg.
I have been thinking in how this transformation in the way we use the Internet can also make an important impact in the daily lives of common people in the developing world, particularly in Latin America.
For example, after reading this article about the rise of women in Latin American countries, I thought that it would be cool to figure out a way to use social media to empower women in remote places by providing them with tools to communicate, collaborate and learn from each other.
Many women across Latin America are doing interesting local projects that have great potential to benefit not only their communities but similar communities around the region. Imagine the power of sharing these ideas and collaborating in a social network to make these projects successful.
Add to this idea the participation in the network of women in leadership positions around the continent and I think you a have a winner.
These women leaders would provide an enormous source of expertise, guidance and business savvy which would complement the work being done locally and improve the chances of bringing projects to fruition.
The tools for setting up a network like the one I propose are already available. Sites like Change.org and Ning allow people to create their own social networks and provide many tools for efficient communication and collaboration. In addition, Change.org was created specifically for non-profits to develop their social networks.
Some limiting factors would be the low technology literacy and minimal penetration of Internet access that exist in many countries in Latin America.
However with the introduction of newer devices such as the XO computer developed for the One Laptop Per Child project, the growing availability of mobile smartphones, and the improving network infrastructure in many countries, I think that these limitations will be gradually becoming less of an obstacle.
A network of women conducting local community projects (hyperlocal sites) linked to the growing community of rising women leaders in Latin America seems to me would be an interesting social media experiment with great potential for empowering women.
Anybody ready to work on something like this?
Technorati Tags: Latin America, OLPC, social network
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