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Celebrities, inherent in the word’s definition, command worldwide attention, they amass hoards of followers on social media, and, thus, they wield an incredible amount of influence. But as it’s been said time and time again, with great power comes great responsibility. Fortunately, some of these famous folks truly recognize that, and capitalize on it. They don’t just use their clout to tweet about the humdrum updates of their day. Rather, they actually try to change the world for the better. Here are 10 celebrities who use social media for good.
John Legend
John Legend is a genuine guy. You hear it in his music, you read it in his lyrics, but most of all you see it in his community service. The multitalented Grammy-award winner is an outspoken supporter of The Show Me Campaign, which he promotes on social media regularly. Headed by Legend himself, the campaign aims to ensure every child in America receives quality education. Working alongside Teach for America, Teach for All, Harlem Village Academies, and New Profit, Legend also addresses issues in the criminal justice system that affect the poor and disadvantaged.
When he’s not promoting the campaign, he also keeps his followers up-to-date on current events. From sharing news about restoring voting rights for prisoners, to tragedies about animal cruelty, Legend uses his platform to keep America aware.
Alicia Keys
You can see it in her Twitter bio. “Passionate about my work, in love with my family and dedicated to spreading light,” is how Alicia Keys describes herself. And spreading the light she does, with her work with Keep a Child Alive. The international R&B star collaborates with the organization in South Africa by raising awareness and money to support the cure for HIV/AIDs, and providing nutrition and basic care (such as shelter) to its children.
On her social media, not only does she shed light on the organization, but she’s also known to Instagram motivational quotes and promote work she believes in, such as Southern Rites, an HBO doc about the integration of segregated proms in Montgomery County, Ga.
Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria is a champion. Not only does she work tirelessly to promote minority groups’ visibility in Hollywood with her production company Unbelievable Entertainment—whose programs like Devious Maids she always promotes on Twitter—but she also spreads the word about her self-titled foundation. With Eva Longoria Foundation, Longoria makes it her mission to encourage young Latinas, specifically, and help them build better and brighter futures, from providing school scholarships to career support.
What’s more, when it comes to promoting the causes she believes in, she doesn’t limit it to her own organizations. On social media Longoria’s been a champion for Holly Robinson Peete’s Hollyrod, which helps individuals living with Parkinson’s Disease and autism. And, as her followers are well aware, she’s continually pushing a farm labor documentary she co-produced with Forest Whitaker, titled Food Chains.
Rashida Jones
As the kid of Quincy Jones and Peggy Lipton, Rashida Jones has seemingly lived a charmed and enviable life. But, she takes none of it for granted. The actress uses her fame to speak out on the issues she cares about, namely humanitarian crises. As an avid supporter of the International Rescue Committee, Jones not only brings to her followers’ attention global tragedies, but also travels to the most impoverished parts of the world, lending her support to refugees uprooted by these crises. Most notably, Jones spent time at the refugee camps on the border of Burma, Thailand, where she worked with the IRC to distribute food and water to over 8,000 people.
Emma Watson
Emma Watson isn’t the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador for nothing. She holds the position because of how evidently passionate she is about women’s rights and gender equality. Even if you’re an occasional social media user, we’d find it hard to believe you missed her push for UN Women’s HeForShe campaign, a solidarity movement. Not only does she continue to encourage dialogue on Twitter regarding gender equality, but she also gave a remarkable speech on her campaign at the United Nations. “It is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum, instead of two sets of opposing ideals,” she noted. “If we stop defining each other by what we are not, and start defining ourselves by who we are, we can all be freer, and this is what HeForShe is about. It’s about freedom.”
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leo DiCaprio is probably one of Hollywood’s most enviable bachelors, but he’s also, and more importantly, one of its biggest activists. The self-proclaimed environmentalist almost exclusively uses his platform on social media to promote the causes he believes in. The producer behind Virunga, a documentary about preserving the last of the world’s mountain gorillas, and The 11th Hour, a doc about global deforestation and mass species extinction, DiCaprio pushes his LD Foundation daily. Named after himself, his foundation works to protect the world’s ecosystems from destruction and preserve the lives of its inhabitants.
Tom Hiddleston
In just a few short years, Tom Hiddleston went from random British actor to Ryan Gosling runner up, i.e. America’s new obsession. Now, The Avengers star is taking advantage of the limelight to promote the foundations he supports. As an activist for UNICEF, Hiddleston encourages his followers to support children in need all over the world. Most recently, he’s spoken up for victims of the Nepal quake and Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu. He’s also proud to support friends on their own humanitarian campaigns, such as Emma Watson’s HeForShe.
Mark Ruffalo
Who knew The Hulk was the sweetest Avenger of them all? Mark Ruffalo, a famously passionate feminist, has also been big on environmental sustainability for years. The New York resident is an outspoken champion of anti-fracking on social media and IRL, having even narrated a film on the issue. Additionally, he’s on the Board of Directors for The Solutions Project, which is speeding up the transition to 100 percent clean and renewable energy by engaging folks in conversations on every platform possible—championing technological innovators aiding the cause and influencing policy change.
Dwayne Johnson
Once a troubled kid with multiple arrests, Dwayne Johnson knows what it’s like to struggle to believe in yourself, and he’s not shy to post about it on social media. That’s also why he’s such a big supporter of helping at-risk youth. In addition to tweeting about his TNT series Wake Up Call and his upcoming HBO documentary titled Rock and a Hard Place, both essentially about showing troubled kids their potential for the future and how to better themselves, Johnson has his own Rock Foundation, supporting the same cause.
Recently, he was also moved by the story of Charlotte and Gwyneth Gray, little girls who were both diagnosed with the rare degenerative brain disorder, Batten disease. He, alongside fellow wrestler John Cena, encourages his followers to donate to the Charlotte and Gwyneth Gray Foundation in order to find a cure for Batten disease.
John Cena
John Cena, being the burly pro wrestler that he is, was a standout in Amy Schumer’s Trainwreck not for his beefcake arms, but, surprisingly, for his sense of humor and vulnerability. IRL, Cena seems to be that same kind of guy, one who tweets motivational quotes to boost individual self-esteem, and encourages patriotism and passion. So what’s he passionate about? Helping sick children in need. Not only has he supported finding a cure for Batten disease, but he’s also a huge champion of his own fans—Cena currently holds the record for most Make-A-Wish, wishes granted, with more than 500.
Jared Allen
More than a star football player—a defensive end for the Carolina Panthers, to be exact—Jared Allen is also an advocate for our troops. After being one of the chosen few who were sent overseas on a NFL-USO tour to visit with U.S. military troops in the Middle East in 2009, he became so passionate about our armed forces that he started his own foundation, Homes for Wounded Warriors. With his organization, Allen, whose grandfather served 23 years in the Marine Corps and whose little bro is currently serving as a Marine, makes sure veterans have a nice house to come home to, whether that’s through the remodeling of their current digs or building new ones entirely.
Of course, he always tweets about his foundation—as do his celebrity friends who support it as well. But more than that, he promotes his support for the troops, namely through inspiring photos/videos of his visits with veterans. All of his efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. Earlier this year, Allen was awarded the Salute to Service Award at the fourth annual NFL Honors show.