Changents: More Social Networking for Social Change
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA 
on 09.21.07
Social networking seems to be all the rage these days. Despite numerous invitations to Facebook, this author has yet to get into this phenomenon, but it certainly doesn’t seem to be getting any less popular.
Encouragingly, we've recently noticed an increasing range of sites dedicated to social networking for those of us interested in social and environmental change.
Not long ago Collin brought us a roundup of what’s currently out there, and soon after that we brought news of yet another service, MakeMeSustainable. Now it seems we need to add another site to the list, with the launch of Changents:
We are... The online stomping ground for Gen X & Y’ers asking tough questions about society and demanding a platform for action.We connect...
Trailblazers tackling the world’s biggest problems – and you. They tell their stories and you tell yours. Then we give you the tools to take action and track your Ripple effect.We change...
The world. At viral speed.
It’ll be interesting to see how much room there is for more sites like this, and which ones take off. We certainly wish Changents luck, and we are glad to see a focus on tips for concrete action – after all, there’s only so much virtual networking you can do before you have to get out there and walk your talk. ::Changents::via tip from Warren – cheers mate!::
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http://www.wiserearth.org/
Thank you for the well-wishes, Sami! We're not worthy... yet!
Since you and Warren spotted us in “quiet alpha mode,” here’s a little more on what we’re up to:
Changents isn’t so much about giving people another change-based social networking profile to maintain. It’s all about helping Change Agents -- the coolest, most amazing individuals who are working (outside the system) on cutting edge, social/environmental projects (like TreeHugger’s own Graham Hill!).
As we introduce compelling Change Agents, we will make it easy for them to raise their profile, build a following and keep their supporters up to date on progress in real time. For our members, we'll offer opportunities to participate on a Change Agent's team and receive a real, highly personal sense of playing a role in a Change Agent's story as it unfolds.
We’re also experimenting with a technology we call The Ripple. It generates real-time, visual representations of what a ripple effect would look like on the Internet as Changents' members pass positive viral actions along from person to person. The Ripple is a work in progress -- for now it’s tied to a limited set of actions on the Changents site (like invitations to join the community) -- but we’re having a lot of fun with it!
Anyway, that’s where we’re headed. Thanks again for calling us out. If any TreeHuggers would like to test-drive the site, we’d love to hear what you have to say as we plan for our Beta release later this year!
Sincerely,
Deron
Changents Co-Founder
Thank you for the well-wishes, Sami! We're not worthy... yet!
Since you and Warren spotted us in “quiet alpha mode,” here’s a little more on what we’re up to:
Changents isn’t so much about giving people another change-based social networking profile to maintain. It’s all about helping Change Agents -- amazing individuals who are working (outside the system) on cutting edge, social/environmental projects. (Like TreeHugger’s own Graham Hill!)
As we introduce compelling Change Agents, we make it easy for them to raise their profile, build a following and keep their supporters up to date on progress in real time. For our members, we offer opportunities to participate on a Change Agent's team and receive a real, highly personal sense of playing a role in a Change Agent's story as it unfolds.
We’re also experimenting with a technology we call The Ripple. It generates real-time, visual representations of what a ripple effect would look like on the Internet as Changents' members pass positive viral actions along from person to person. The Ripple is a work in progress -- for now it’s tied to a limited set of actions on the Changents site (like invitations to join the community) -- but we’re having a lot of fun with it!
Anyway, that’s where we’re headed. Thanks again for calling us out. If any TreeHuggers would like to test-drive the site, we’d love to hear what you have to say as we plan for our Beta release later this year!