Social Media for Change with Livestrong

The AP reports from the Aspen Ideas Festival and a panel about social media with Lance Armstrong, Doug Ulman, and others

The use of social media has helped build the Livestrong Foundation into a powerhouse, but, more important, it’s helped individual cancer victims realize they have an “army” standing by to help, founder Lance Armstrong said Saturday at the Aspen Ideas Festival. “When I was diagnosed, I went down to the bookstore to figure out what cancer is all about,” Armstrong said, referring to the discovery in 1996 that he had testicular cancer at age 25. Now, people who are diagnosed have a wealth of information at their fingertips via the Internet. They also have multiple forums, like Livestrong’s Twitter account and Facebook page, where they can share their fears, seek support and solicit advice.

via m.apnews.com

A couple years ago, Livestrong CEO Doug Ullman joined me for a Core Conversation at SXSW and talked about using Social Media for change. Here’s an audio recording Doug and I made just before the talk. It was released on the SXSW Play app.

Livestrong CEO and Byron

Doug told me how Livestrong started as a bike ride and grew with wristbands and Twitter.

The panel covered more topics and Lance added, “Today it’s not a crooked line. It’s a straight line to the people,” referring to messaging with social media and also the dangers for public figures.

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