Every year around this time, society suddenly becomes very concerned about the environment. Three hundred and sixty-four days out of the year, we buy, build, consume, and pollute without a second thought. But when Earth Day rolls around, everyone wants to show how much they care about the planet. 

Twitter, the social media company that pioneered the microblogging industry, recently announced plans to open a new office in Downtown Detroit. And rather than carving out an entire floor in the fanciest office building in town, the company has chosen to set up shop in a coworking space.

Imagine this: a friend borrows your car, and is involved in an accident. No one is hurt, but the vehicle is badly damaged and the other driver fled the scene. Normally this would be an insurance nightmare, but for Emily Castor, a San Francisco, California resident who regularly rents out her vehicle through Getaround’s peer-to-peer (P2P) car sharing service, it was practically a non-issue.

We talk all the time about how technology can improve our lives and facilitate richer communication between people who might otherwise have never met or had a conversation. But can you honestly say that these devices and online tools intentionally add happiness to your life? During the first day of SxSWi, I met the creators of three social networks that think the answer should be 'yes.'