Using social media to create social good is a good thing. But it’s never quite that easy, is it?
Strip2Clothe is a new Virgin Mobile promotion where anyone can submit “fun by not salacious” videos of themselves stripping in order to help clothe homeless youth.
From the Virgin Mobile YouTube channel:
Strip2Clothe is Virgin Mobile’s initiative to provide BRAND NEW clothing to homeless youth across the country. At Strip2Clothe.com, people (virtually) give the shirts off their backs to help homeless kids. Believe it or not, a set of new clothes can be an important first step towards getting off the streets and transitioning into a stable life.
By outfitting homeless kids with new clothing, we hope this basic necessity provides the confidence for them to stay in or return to school, apply for jobs, pursue mentors, and seek safe, healthy environments.
So, don’t just ‘take it off’ — take it ON — and show America’s homeless youth that you’re brave enough to help.
Here’s one of the most popular videos to date. Don’t worry, it won’t get you fired if you are at work.
As you might guess, this campaign has raised hackles for a number of reasons:
- It’s targeted to youth
- Many homeless youth are sexually exploited
- Some homeless advocates are saying homeless kids need shelter and safety more than they need clothing
- A number of the 150 organizations supporting homeless youth weren’t aware of the nature of the promotion and have found it distasteful
The videos are screened and no full nudity is allowed. To date, 64,417 donations have been made.
But it is stripping, and it is teenagers.
So, is Virgin Mobile’s Strip2Clothe responsible or not?
Comment below to share your thoughts.
Works for me. And since when don’t homeless kids need clothing? In the ’70s, many of my friends were homeless kids. Clothes, especially warm clothers, were essential. Sure, shelter is needed. But shelters are often dangerous and over-crowded. The street is safer for those in a bonded community, of which more than a few exist.
You know. I tire of naysayers. Anyone can find fault. It’s easy. It takes real effort to find solutions.
Lewis,
Thanks for the comment. I think the key concern I’ve seen in reading a bit on this is that Virgin Mobile feels a bit insincere in all this.
Dont’ get me wrong. Their txt2clothe campaign was brilliant, but this campaign is being viewed by some a cheap way to get a little viral attention.
I think this is a fascinating Responsible Marketing example.
I’m all for companies doing social good, but I’m a little nervous about backlash against social good campaigns sponsored by for-profit organizations when I see things like this.
If not a backlash, I do expect fatigue and for more and more people to tune out when they begin to believe that it’s not about the cause–it’s about how far you can push it to get attention.
I’ll be sad if that day comes, because social media is really doing a lot of good these days.
Patrick
I think that it presents a situation in which it’s of benefit to one cause yet harmful to another. The greater good is not being considered.
It’s persuasive, beautiful…but it’s persuasive in various negative ways as well.
Firstly, the world in general is already tainted by sexual predators, who do not even need to see stripping to provoke their insatiable appetites.
Secondly, teenagers are already out of control hormonally. Why add more fuel to the fire? Don’t we have enough unwanted pregnancies and sexual diseases as it is?
Thirdly, The videos encourage teens to be more comfortable with sexual themes, which ultimately is ruinous to their mindsets. Which of course, they’ll spread to future generations. Used to be, we were forbidden to see a bra on television, much less sexuality in media’s advertisements.
Compare how many donations have been made to how many more donations will be needed for various other things that this encourages.
Kimberly
That girl in the video featured is my 19 y/o daughter. She did it for fun & to be charitable. Notice she was still clothed at the end. She would never take off all her clothes on the internet. I support her decision to do this. You go Amber!
As Chris Rock said, if you’re a parent, and your daughter’s on the pole, you done f—-ed up.
Couldn’t agree more.
I think its amazing! I mean the whole dancing thing kind of sex’s it up. But all in all it’s for a good cause and “sex” is not the intention of it.
I unfortunately was unable to view the clip, I like that fact that its targeted to the right people and that it doesn’t necessary mean that sex is involved but points out that in the younger age group this is something that they are doing at a younger age, I am glad that this was done in aid od charity and that it benefited those less privileged