YouTube against world poverty

The United Nations is using YouTube in an attempt to win support for its official anti-poverty goals. According to yesterday’s Wall Street Journal it has got Y&R;, one of the world’s largest advertising agencies, to design videos featuring LonelyGirl15, a character in a popular web series. The videos are already being aired in the run-up to the UN’s anti-poverty initiative – stand up against poverty – this coming weekend.

Strange that the campaign seems to be presenting itself as the authentic voice of the teenager when it is designed by a professional ad agency. Even more odd that the goals that it is supporting are those endorsed by the world’s leaders in 2000.