The nature of social enterprise is human to its very core. The desire to do good comes from people who see injustice, inequality, and need in the world, and who want nothing more than to do something about it. On the other side of the coin, however, are the realities of modern life. Technology shapes our world, and drives progress forward in ways we never would have thought possible even fifty years ago. On the surface, it may seem like human empathy and technology have very little in common, and that there would be very few ways in which one would influence the other.

Technology doesn’t mean abandoning the human aspect of social enterprise.

Nonprofit and social organizations, especially those that have been thriving for decades, have tried-and-tested methods of making things work. Historically, these methods have been steeped in good old-fashioned hard work, with people forging out in the community and getting things done, connecting with people face-to-face and bonding over common goals. What many don’t realize, however, is that embracing technology doesn’t necessarily mean abandoning the human aspect of what social enterprise is all about.

Progress will happen whether you accept it or not

The way we communicate with each other is constantly transforming. Sure, there are some who cling to the old ways – your aunt who refuses to get a cell phone, your colleague who has no online presence. The majority of us, though, recognize that the future is coming for us regardless, and the best way to prepare is not to deny that it’s happening, but to find our place within it.

I’m sure you know people who complain about social media and how it’s “destroying real communication.” Maybe you have even felt that way yourself from time to time. While it’s good to remember that the essential aspect of human connection is, well, human connection, it’s also okay to accept that the nature of human connection can develop in different ways.

It’s okay to accept that the nature of human connection can develop in different ways.

Those who try to resist the tide of this progress say that they simply miss a time when people actually talked to each other. What they fail to realise, though, is that we haven’t stopped talking – in fact, we are communicating with each other on a global level more than was ever possible before. It’s simply happening in a different way, and though the speed with which technology is advancing can sometimes feel cold and unemotional, the human element is still there. We humans, after all, are the catalysts that set the whole thing off in the first place. We can either deny that and act like we’re separate from it somehow, or accept our collective role in the process and help guide technology in the direction we want it to go.

Technology is not your enemy, it’s your ally

The aim, then, in accepting that technological progress will happen, is to find ways to combine it with your humanitarian goals, and use it to your advantage. For many who resist technology, the feeling is that there’s something slightly sinister about it, something not to be trusted. Embracing technology is not the same as being naïve, though – you simply want to learn about the ways in which tech is there to help you, and make use of those to the best of your ability.

For example, the new wave of wearable technology has huge potential in the social enterprise world. As Patrick Sullivan notes, society has been rather slow to adopt wearables, perhaps because of the trust issue, but even slow, gradual adoption has changed the way that social enterprises operate, especially those in the health and medical sectors. Lives are being saved and transformed, and those numbers will only increase as these technologies become more prevalent.

Lives are being saved and transformed, and those numbers will only increase as these technologies become more prevalent.

The internet, too, is a good friend of nonprofits and social enterprises. Even the more reluctant old-school organizations are finally recognizing that there is a lot to be gained from getting enthusiastic about the web, online video, and social media. In the age of the viral trend, there are more opportunities than ever for a message to be heard on a large scale. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is a good example of this, and nonprofits like TED provide ways for social entrepreneurs to have their ideas heard, seen, and shared on a worldwide stage.

You want young people? This is how you get young people

One of the biggest challenges facing social enterprise is the tricky problem of how to get kids and young adults interested, and keep them interested for long enough to make a difference. After all, the future of your organization depends on having incoming generations to take over from those who are moving on or retiring. You also want young people outside your organization to care about what you’re doing, if you want to have lasting success. A good way to do this, of course, is to utilize the technologies that young people use in their everyday lives, meeting them on their home turf and adapting to their new ways, instead of asking for them to adapt to your older ways.

Utilize the technologies that young people use in their everyday lives.

The Alliance for Climate Education, for example, has taken this idea to the next level. They’ve devoted an entire section of their website to youth action, and they frequently engage in initiatives aimed specifically at getting young people involved. These include things like asking students to text their environmental pledges to their friends, creating email lists to help keep up with each student’s progress, and even hosting online haiku contests for fun and awareness.

Balance is the key to true innovation

In order to make the best use of what technology has to offer social enterprises, it’s essential to accept that it’s not a case of human interaction versus technological advancement, but rather giving your best people the best technology that’s available, and letting both sides progress together.

Groups like TechSoup Global exist solely for this purpose – to join up social enterprises with the technologies that can help them make a greater humanitarian impact. Perhaps in future decades, the technology we use to do good in this world will be such a helpful and integrated part of our process, we won’t even remember why we ever resisted it in the first place.