Today more than 40 autism charities and a team of celebrities worldwide are joining forces to launch a global campaign challenging the world’s 4.5 billion *social media users to shutdown their networks just for one day.
The Communication Shutdown campaign encourages Facebook and Twitter users to make a donation and receive a charity app or (CHAPP) that will signal their support and intention to boycott their accounts on 1 November.
Social communication is one of the biggest challenges for people with autism and by volunteering to shutdown the world will have some idea of what this is like. For a $5 donation, the CHAPP will connect with the user’s Facebook and Twitter accounts by placing a shutdown icon over their profile picture.
From today the Communication Shutdown CHAPP will be available on the campaign website www.communicationshutdown.org. The site will also host a global mosaic where supporters can see their profile pic next to celebrities who have signed up.
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| The Global Mosaic |
Even world-famous celebs want to get involved with names including Miranda Kerr, Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler, Toni Braxton, Holly Robinson Peete are all ready to shutdown.
“As someone who relies on social networks to stay connected I will find it quite a challenge not to log on come 1 November. After finding out social communication is one of the biggest challenges for people with autism, I wanted to support the campaign by challenging myself not to use my Facebook and Twitter accounts for the day," independent Filipino filmmaker, Mike Sandejas said.
This global project is also greatly supported by international autism advocate, Temple Grandin.
“I can remember the frustration of not being able to talk. I knew what I wanted to say, but I could not get the words out, so I would just scream. People will have some idea of what this feels like when they take part in Communication Shutdown.” Dr Temple Grandin
The Philippines has over 10 million social network users and globally more than two thirds of the world’s population stay connected through networks like Facebook and Twitter. As people become more reliant on these channels to communicate worldwide, the Communication Shutdown fundraising campaign will also serve as a social experiment on social media habits.
This fundraising campaign is truly powered by the people and autism charities across the world encourage people to show their support by donating $5 to receive the CHAPP and spread the message across their networks from 1 October through to 31 October, ready for Communication Shutdown on 1 November.
For more information, videos, images or interviews, please contact Cristina Estampador at cristina@autismsocietyph.org
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** Nielsen’s Global Faces and Networked Places 2009 report.
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