When the help is found on Facebook: About neglected needs and new forms of help

Abstract

People with low incomes seek financial support via Facebook and other social media. For what is the assistance requested and which individuals seek help? 30 applications from Giving People showed that families with children seek help for basic needs such as food and clothing. This help is compared to help given from the charity organization Sveriges Stadsmissioner and to financial assistance from the social services. The help from Giving People is fast and the organization deliberately circumvents the social services' requirements for reporting income. The help-seeking individual receives a small supplement but with a risk that poverty in society will not receive enough attention. Sveriges Stadsmissioner and the social services offer professional personal meetings, unlike Giving People. This can be important because financial difficulties are often a marker for other social problems.

Key words: poverty, social media, Giving People, Sveriges Stadsmissioner, social services