Despite privacy concerns nearly 40% of social network users who own a mobile device use geolocation. That said, only 4% of U.S. Internet users make use of apps like foursquare, Gowalla and Loop. Only 1% check in at least once a week.

Geolocation Grows Despite Privacy Concerns – eMarketer.

At times, social media can get a bad rap for being a distraction, an impediment to an otherwise fluid productive corporate process, perhaps even a sophomoric playground full of unsavory jokes and unsubstantiated rumors. And while this may be accurate in certain instances and circumstances, social media can also do some good in the world – as evidenced by the recent announcements by social platform’s Gowalla and Loopt.

On Wednesday, Loopt announced that for every user who checks in from a Panera, Chipotle or a Whole Foods, it will donate $1 towards Haitian relief – $.50 will be given to the Red Cross and the other $.50 will go to Doctors Without Borders.

And not to be outdone, Gowalla announced that it will donate an even more generous $50 to the Red Cross for every user who checks in from one of three locations in San Francisco, at certain times this coming Monday (click the previous link for specific times and locations if you’re in the San Fran area).

Social media is no stranger to social activism, if you will. But beyond users showing they support democracy in Iran by just clicking a button to apply a green tint to their Twitter avatars, these efforts have a much more direct impact (though I’m sure some would argue me on that). They require that you actually pry yourself away from you computer screen, that you take the time to “check in,” and these companies are sending actual financial support to help a nation rocked by disaster.

Of course, for as magnanimous as these efforts are, they may also be somewhat self-serving in that anyone who isn’t already a Loopt or Gowalla user may sign up for an account to participate – thus increasing the platforms’ user bases. But even if that is the case, the effect remains the same.

So for anyone who thinks social media is just another form of mindless entertainment, here’s a little incentive to consider it as something more.