Google can predict your future…or can it?
This smart initiative have hi-jacked the Google brand to entice people in with the claim that it can predict your fortune with one simple click. Once you arrive at the page you’re greeted with a search engine home page much like Google’s. As you begin to type in your question you’re presented with several suggestions like “Will I be reunited with my family?” or “Where can I find a safe place?” before being taken to a second page with the poignant message about the refugee crisis.
“Of coue we can’t predict your future! But 60 million refugees ask themselves every day if they have a future at all. So we used a fake Google-site to get your attention because apparently you were interested in your own future. Please take a moment to think of their future.”
The message goes on to explain that the aim of the project was to raise awareness. “We need structural solutions on political levels for the growing European problem.” Finishing with “please feel free to donate your time, money or love and spread the word,” with the option to share the page on Facebook or Twitter.
The site that has been live for some time now, is an extremely smart and well executed project which isn’t actually affiliated to Google. It was born from a company registered in the Netherlands called BrainMedia, however Google have since joined the efforts and matched donations to raise nearly $11 million. The idea of ‘predicting your future’ to grab attention is beautifully simple which is what makes it so effective. A concept that is guaranteed to garner intrigue and bring people in which makes it no surprise it has gone viral.
You too can join the efforts and donate to the crisis here: https://donate.unhcr.org/gb-en/general/