[Question] How to share the basic concept of EA on social media? (Facebook in my case)

The purpose of this question is to find a good way to share the basic concept of EA on Facebook or other social media platforms in order to introduce more people to these ideas and hopefully get them engaged and more likely to donate to effective charities in the future.

Maybe there has been some thinking on this topic already (in which case someone could maybe provide a link?), but my quick search didn’t reveal anything.

In as far as cheap growth is desirable (I’m aware there’s a debate), I expect the cost-benefit analysis of posting on Facebook about EA to be very favourable and I probably think every EA should do it. Many people will have hundreds of Facebook friends to whom they would otherwise likely never have talked about EA.

[Edit: Probably best to skip the remainder of the question and read alexrjl’s comment, which seems convincing to me.]


However, I have very little experience with social media. Hence I would like to ask you, to provide feedback on this draft:


Effective Altruism. How to not only help others, but help them as much as possible with the resources available to you?

This is probably the single best idea I have ever come across. It is seemingly obvious, but the conclusions drawn when taking it seriously are anything but (and still debated). Effective Altruism has profoundly changed how I think about my life. Nothing else has ever been as consistently at the top of my mind for so many months.

If you are at all interested, please read a basic intro here:
https://​​www.effectivealtruism.org/​​

If you aspire to using your career to do good, read 80,000 hours’ key ideas here:
https://​​80000hours.org/​​key-ideas/​​
(or listen to their amazing podcasts)

I would also recommend reading “Doing Good Better”, a book by William MacAskill, if you are curious and want a deeper dive.

Most people reading this have been born into the richest few percent in the world (test it at https://​​www.givingwhatwecan.org/​​get-involved/​​how-rich-am-i/​​ ). We should be grateful and give back.

And as it turns out, trying to do so effectively, can literally make one €100 donation the equivalent of another €10 000 donation.

IF YOU REMEMBER NOTHING ELSE, please consult https://​​www.givewell.org/​​ before donating in the future.

And hopefully, careful consideration can help some of us have similarly disproportionately large impacts through our careers.

P.S. Note that this community (like others) has warned of pandemics being one of our species’ most important threats, long before COVID-19. That should maybe make you trust their judgement somewhat more.


If we want to optimise how many people actually become engaged with EA and how many people decide to donate significant amounts to effective charities, how should I change it?

Is it too long?
Does it sound cheesy? Is that a good or a bad thing?
Are there too many links? Or would you add others?
My thinking is that the second paragraph will make people more likely to read on. Do you agree or should I get straight to the links?
Though I am a long-termist, I included the line about GiveWell since I suppose it will be appealing to many more people than linking some X-Risk charity /​ fund. Do you agree?

I think ideally we would converge on a better version of this (with obviously wiggle room to change things) and I would maybe sum that up in a short follow-up post, to make it easy for everyone in the future deciding to make a similar post. If you don’t think that’s a good idea, let me know.




No comments.