They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and a new start-up is really banking on that old axiom being true. Food enthusiasts who tease their social media networks with mouth-watering snapshots of fine cuisine can now do good while eating well. A free iPhone app called Feedie has partnered with some of the New York area’s best restaurants to change what sharing food pics is all about.
The app is poised to turn taking fun, but pointless, food pics into a productive, charitable activity, according to The LA Times. “Here’s how it works: Sign in through Twitter or Facebook and check in at a Feedie participating restaurant. Take a photo of your food, then share it on Facebook or Twitter. Sounds like just another ‘Look at me, are you jealous?’ shot taken at dinner, right? This time though, in addition to the many ‘Likes’ you’ll receive from clearly envious friends, the Feedie restaurant will donate a meal to the Lunchbox Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides a daily meal to South African orphans and vulnerable schoolchildren.” The Feedie app website logs the transactions and as of this writing, 331 meals have been donated so far.
The Times says that the app was co-founded by the Lunchbox Fund creator Topaz Page-Green and chef Mario Batali, a Feedie spokesman. There are about 100 restaurants participating, all in New York City so far, but Page-Green told ABC she hopes the app expands to more areas, and further expansion also includes extending the app to Android users too.
Are apps like Feedie prone to encourage users to turn their social media presence into a more socially conscious space? What other social issues could internet culture tackle by hooking up charitable organizations with our behavior on the web?
For more information, or to apply to be a Feedie restaurant, visit wethefeedies.com. — Casandra Armour
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