Last updated: April 4th, 2022. Although there have always been mixed opinions about the pros and cons of social media, platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube can always be used for good or evil at the end of the day. While some argue the algorithms have been designed to perpetuate falsities, social media can still act as a means of spreading positive, empowering information if the user chooses to do so, despite all the controversy surrounding it. In fact, many celebrities use social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to help others, champion good causes and speak up about the issues that are close to their hearts.
10 Celebrities Using Social Media to Help Others
Here are 10 celebrities who are using their social media fame for good:
1. Angelina Jolie
Actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie, long recognized as one of the most generous celebrities in the world, shared her first-ever Instagram post on August 20th, 2021. Her account followers skyrocketed to 10 million in less than a week. Instead of creating an account to share selfies and photos of herself glammed up and red carpet ready, Jolie used her fame to draw attention to the crisis happening in Afghanistan, sharing a letter she received from a teenage girl in the country to give a voice to the voiceless.
2. Jennifer Aniston
Known for her role as Rachel in Friends (and so much more), Jennifer Aniston recently posted about the new line of Friends merchandise featuring clothes and accessories inspired by the show. In the caption, the actress noted that half of her proceeds from the launch will go towards supporting Americares, an organization dedicated to providing mental health care and medical aid to communities affected by the pandemic.
3. Kat Graham
As a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, actress and influencer Kat Graham is one of the celebrities using her social media profile for good. She regularly spreads awareness about the challenges faced by refugees around the world to her almost seven million followers. Although she’s best known for her role on Vampire Diaries, Kat has made her mark as a humanitarian and passionate advocate for those who are struggling.
4. Selena Gomez
In a recent Instagram post shared on her birthday, actress and singer Selena Gomez asked her followers to donate to the Rare Impact Fund, launched last year as part of her cosmetics line Rare Beauty. The fund provides mental health services to those in need, which is a cause most of us can relate to in some way.
5. Leonardo DiCaprio
Although he’s most well-known for being the heartthrob in famous flicks like Titanic and Catch Me If You Can, Leonardo DiCaprio is a devoted environmentalist IRL — in fact, his Instagram profile looks more like it belongs to an environmental non-profit organization than an actor. He leverages his profile and almost 50 million followers to share information about climate change. He posts about endangered species, stabilizing the climate and restoring freshwater ecosystems, issues that could always benefit from more publicity.
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6. Queen Latifah
You probably know her from roles in movies like Last Holiday and Hairspray, but Queen Latifah also doubles as a social media star and is one of the celebrities using her platform to spread awareness about important issues. For example, for Women’s Equality Day, the actress posted an infographic sharing five Black women suffragists we should all know about. She also recently posted a video for Scleroderma Awareness Day in honor of her mother, who she lost to the chronic autoimmune disease.
7. Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis
These celebrities have a history of using their social media presence for good. After the massive success of their Quarantine Wine, which they launched during the pandemic to raise money for charity, everyone’s favorite couple from That 70’s Show — Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis — are back at it again with Outside Wine. In a hilarious video directed by Mila, Ashton recently shared news of the launch via Instagram, noting that proceeds of the wine will go towards charities like Thorn, which fights child sexual abuse, and the Skate Park Project, which offers grants to help finance public skateparks in low-income communities. Most recently, the celebrity couple raised $30 million to help Ukrainian refugees, and at the 2022 Oscars, Kunis paid tribute to the situation in Ukraine with a touching speech.
8. Barack Obama
Yes, this one is kind of a given, but that doesn’t mean Barack Obama doesn’t deserve a shoutout for the humanitarian and charitable work he does via social media. The former U.S. President frequently shares posts about the causes that matter to him as an extension of the Obama Foundation. The organization offers a variety of leadership, mentorship, education and civic engagement programs to “inspire, empower and connect people to change their world.”
9. Ariana Grande
Superstar Ariana Grande recently posted an Instagram photo encouraging her followers to get vaccinated, and she’s also partnered with BetterHelp in the past to give away $1 million in free therapy, reminding her followers that it’s okay to ask for help if they’re struggling. With 263 million followers, any positive message shared by Ariana is sure to make a massive impact through the sheer size of her reach alone.
10. Katy Perry
Not only does pop star Katy Perry use her social media presence to spread wellness-related information so her followers can be their best selves, but she’s also one of the celebrities using her platform to share more about the causes that matter to her. For example, as a new mom, Katy recently shared that she’s an angel for Baby2Baby, an organization that provides children living in poverty with essential items like clothing and diapers.
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