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Social Media Charity Campaigns and Pro-social Behaviour. Evidence from the Ice Bucket Challenge

Author

Listed:
  • Fazio, Andrea

    (Sapienza University of Rome)

  • Reggiani, Tommaso G.

    (Cardiff University)

  • Scervini, Francesco

    (University of Pavia)

Abstract

Social media use plays an important role in shaping individuals' social attitudes and economic behaviours. One of the first well-known examples of social media campaigns is the Ice Bucket Challenge (IBC), a charity campaign that went viral on social media networks in August 2014, aiming to collect money for research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We rely on UK longitudinal data to investigate the causal impact of the Ice Bucket Challenge on pro-social behaviours. In detail, this study shows that having been exposed to the IBC increases the probability of donating money, and it also increases the amount of money donated among those who donate at most £100. We also find that exposure to the IBC has increased the probability of volunteering and the level of interpersonal trust. However, all these results, except for the result on the intensive margins of donations, are of short duration and are limited to less than one year. This supports the prevalent consensus that social media campaigns may have only short-term eects.

Suggested Citation

  • Fazio, Andrea & Reggiani, Tommaso G. & Scervini, Francesco, 2023. "Social Media Charity Campaigns and Pro-social Behaviour. Evidence from the Ice Bucket Challenge," IZA Discussion Papers 16046, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp16046
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    Cited by:

    1. Kim, Minseong & Kim, Jihye, 2024. "From empathetic hearts to digital hands: A study of compassion and donation behavior in social media advertising," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    2. Manna, Sem & Stringhi, Alessandro, 2025. "Purely hedonic image concerns and audience size: Evidence from a charity dictator game," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).

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    JEL classification:

    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • O35 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Social Innovation

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