It might be difficult to find anyone who hasnt seen one of these ice bucket challenge videos or pictures. And every day theres a new one with a celebrity1 in it. Justin Biebers video got more than one million likes. Former US President George W Bush took part in one and so did actor Tom Cruise, internet billionaires, footballers and my neighbour Sophie. But has it achieved anything?
The challenges objective was fundraising and bringing awareness2 to the Amyotrophic Lateral3 Sclerosis Association in the US. The figures say it did. During the month of August, when the campaign was in full swing, ALS received over $98m a big jump compared to the $2.7m donated during the same period last year.
Other charities have benefitted from it too, including the UKs Water Aid. It seems to have got money from some people who thought the ice bucket challenge was a waste of precious liquid.
But the initiative has its critics. Shannon Murray, a British writer who campaigns for disability rights says: Its been very celebrity-orientated and it plays into our culture of putting everything about ourselves out there on social media. Some people have obviously done it to raise their profile and thats up to them. Personally it makes me a bit uncomfortable.
Veteran BBC radio presenter4 John Humphrys isnt happy either. I have mixed feelings about persuading people to support a charity with stunts, he says. Humphrys believes charity should be about giving because its a worthwhile cause that we want to help.
The ice bucket challenge isnt the first initiative to get benefactors5 through social media. In March, Cancer Research UK raised millions when women posted pictures of themselves online wearing no makeup6 while donating to charity.
The days of just relying on peoples goodwill7 and social conscience might be over. As Humphreys puts it: Charity has become big business, and fundraising is all about clever marketing8. Pity they cant let the cause speak for itself.
