Social Media for Good

Stories of the ways social media is being used to make a positive difference and help people

Two photos side-by-side. On the left, an older man in a red shirt pours wax into glass jars, creating candles. On the right, a product photo of a wax candle in a glass jar, with a label that reads: "Apple-Achian: Apple, cinnamon, nutmeg."

Amid power outages, North Carolina candle shop 'gives light' to Helene victims in need

Sparta Candle Company is donating hundreds of candles to help North Carolinans in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz sits in a park next to his dog, Scout, a Black labrador mix. Behind them are luscious green trees. Walz wears a khaki hat that reads "Minnesota Grown," with a black quarter-zip shirt, as he pets the dog, who wears a black collar.

Tim Walz says his rescue dog's 'sense of empathy' has made him a better leader — and human

The Vice Presidential hopeful joined WeRateDogs for a walk in the park with his rescue pup, Scout.

An illustration of Jacob Simon on an iPhone, speaking into a small microphone on his white ear buds. The phone sits atop a bright yellow background with a doodle of the sun. The words "for the first and only time" appear behind him.

Art saved eco-educator Jacob Simon. He thinks it can save our planet, too.

Jacob Simon, an environmentalist, optimist, and educator, explains why he thinks art could have a world-saving impact on the climate crisis.

Two photos side by side. On the left, a blond Dylan Mulvaney takes a selfie in a black strappy dress. On the right, the movie poster for the documentary "Will & Harper," featuring Harper Steele sitting passenger to Will Ferrell in a car.

Dylan Mulvaney's dad provides a blueprint for supportive parenting at 'Will & Harper' premiere

Dylan Mulvaney took her dad, James, as her plus-one to the Netflix premiere of “Will & Harper.”

Three photos side-by-side. On the left, Stephen Curry dribbles a basketball while in a royal blue and yellow jersey. In the center, a mockup of an iPhone shows a voter registration webpage. On the right, Olivia Rodrigo sits in a chair, holding a microphone, in front of a violet curtain

Olivia Rodrigo, Steph Curry encourage voter registration at the link in their bios

The stars are part of a National Voter Registration Day effort to leverage their platforms for civic engagement.

Chappell Roan performs on stage, singing to her mic stand — topped with a wig — like a lover

How Chappell Roan leveraged her meteoric rise to break fundraising records

Chappell Roan’s career is on a never-before-seen trajectory — and so are her fundraising efforts.

Three photos. Left: Hunter Shafer plays Jules Vaughn in HBO's 'Euphoria.' Center: Bella Ramsey and Storm Reid in 'The Last of Us.' Right: Christina Hendricks leans atop Hannah Einbinder, about to kiss her in an episode of 'Hacks.'

This viral spreadsheet is your guide to queer women characters on TV

A TikTok creator made a thorough online database to make it easier to find TV shows with LGBTQ+ women characters.

Jason Christensen and his invention: The Sleep Trailer, showing eight pods for people experiencing homelessness to sleep in

Viral TikTok Sleep Trailer Invention Aims To End Homelessness

The Sleep Trailer aims to provide transitional support to folks experiencing homelessness and get them on their way to long-term stability.

Polaroid of Dylan Mulvaney smiling at Pride, over a playful background of LGBTQ+ and happy illustrations

Dylan Mulvaney: 'My First Pride as a Trans Woman Felt Honest & Free'

Dylan Mulvaney is TikTok’s sweetheart, documenting her journey into girlhood. Read more about her very first Pride Month as a trans woman!

Casey McIntyre's tweet with images of her with her family and the text: a note to my friends: if you’re reading this I have passed away. I’m so sorry, it’s horse and we both know it. The cause was stage four ovarian cancer. I loved each and every one of you with my whole heart and I promise you, I knew how deeply I was loved.

In Her Final Now-Viral Farewell, Woman Buys Off Strangers' Medical Debts: 'I'm So Lucky'

The fund, created in collaboration with the nonprofit RIP Medical Debt, has already exceeded its initial $20,000 goal, showcasing the impact of the beloved woman's compassionate final wish.

A screenshot of Elena Kilgore's TikTok, as well as a blobfish underwater and a blobfish on a table.

TikTok wants you to know that blobfish are not actually ugly

The infamous image circulating of one of the “world’s ugliest animals” might be misleading.

Three photos. On the right, a big-horned sheep. In the center, a screenshot of the Selfie Control filter in action on Instagram. On the left, a close-up of a bison in the snow walking head-on.

With human-wildlife contact on the rise, Wyoming introduces new Instagram filter to keep visitors safe

The Selfie Control filter keeps visitors from getting too close to wild animals.