Facebook has gone from being an exclusive social network to becoming an educational site that encourages youth action.
After being invited to support the Elias Fund, I have become familiar with an organization I have never heard about and probably would not have ever been associated with. By using the causes application, the organization can link the facebook population with their website.
Among the many new "tools" on facebook, such as the advanced wall or the U.S. politics link, the new causes application effectively informs users of various organizations.
Charities like the Elias Fund, which aims to raise money for education in Zimbabwe, is one of countless organizations that go overlooked in our society. By using causes however, friends spread the word of the Elias fund by inviting other friends. Upon signing in to their account, the invitation appears on their home screen and remains there until it is either accepted or declined. This is effective because even if they choose to decline the invite, they still have to see what the cause is.
Those who do accept the cause invitation are sent to a page where they can exit out of the facebook network and visit sites dedicated solely to that cause. This gives users the opportunity to donate money to fundraisers or educate themselves further, which will inevitably help spread the word.
The causes application is highly effective because it places outside links inside the widely popular network where overlooked charities, such as the Elias Fund, can tell their story.