Getting active (politically) using social media

Ok, it may not be as impactful or as meaningful as marching on Washington or staging a sit-in, but if you’re using social media anyway, there are lots of ways to use it to make your political views known or to try to do some good in the world. Futurismic calls it “micro-volunteering”: using social media tools to do some good on your down time. Mashable is running a program called the Summer of Social Good, using social networking tools to raise money for worthwhile causes.

Here are some causes I like that you might want to join:

• Advocate that the U.S. government more broadly support Open Source technologies.
• Free your cell phone from the restrictive policies and outrageous fees of wireless companies.
• Tweet your Senator to let him/her know that you support healthcare reform.
• Use Twitter, Facebook and blogs to organize a boycott, like this boycott on Whole Foods in response to their CEO’s editorial against healthcare reform.
• Other causes on Facebook.

Once you’ve picked your cause, head over to Twibbon to display a ribbon proudly on your Twitter avatar.