Final answer:
The correct answer to the question is 'a. Crowdfunding,' which is a way of raising money for various initiatives by soliciting contributions from a wide audience, primarily through online platforms. A. Crowdfunding.
Step-by-step explanation:
Crowdfunding is the concept where someone requests money for a company, product, idea, cause, etc., and various users choose to contribute.
Unlike traditional fundraising methods that rely on a few donors or investors, crowdfunding leverages the power of many, typically via the Internet, to pool resources and capital for a cause or venture. Platforms like Kickstarter exemplify this modern approach to financing, which forgoes traditional methods to raise large sums quickly and engages a broad community in the funding process. The correct option for when someone requests money and users choose to contribute is a. Crowdfunding.
Furthermore, crowdfunding can be seen as a subset of crowdsourcing, which is a broader concept involving obtaining services, ideas, or content by soliciting contributions from a large group of people. This aligns with the social change facilitated by communication technology, an aspect highlighted in the study of crowdsourcing. Notably, crowdsourced efforts like Wikipedia and Kickstarter demonstrate the vast potential and efficiency of this collaborative online approach.