"New age" in social media evolves after Haiti earthquake
By: Lauren Theurer
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Opinion
The crisis in Haiti has been raging on for weeks now, and everywhere one turns, there is evidence of the natural human urge to help those in need. Food boxes, donation drives, relief events: the outpouring of support has been extremely visible. However, there is another aspect to the relief effort that is happening on a much less obvious scale.
The usage of social media and technology in response to this crisis is groundbreaking. Obviously, social media as a medium for charity has its pros and cons. However, the actions taken in the wake of this earthquake are unlike anything that has been seen before, and could possibly mark a new age in what social media means: something beyond entertainment, which attempts to actually link human beings together.
Immediately following the earthquake in Haiti, users of social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook jumped into the news coverage sphere, posting breaking-news information and photographs that often overshadowed the efforts of more mainstream journalists.
Social media platforms also helped spread the news, perhaps drawing the attention of those who otherwise might not have heard so much about the tragedy. News agencies are looking to use sites such as Facebook, Twitter and others to reach out to the college-age demographic, whose news consumption has migrated almost entirely online-the reporting of the disaster in Haiti may be an example of a success story for this tactic.
Perhaps the biggest impact social media has had on this story, however, is the emergence of social media donations. Organizations such as the Red Cross have earned over $5 million through simple text messages alone, and although some are wary of the potential for exploitation inherent in technological monetary transactions, the United States State Department has posted a list of legitimate charitable organizations whose text message services are certified. The popular Facebook application FarmVille raised $1.2 million by adding purchasable crops to their game, with the proceeds going to Haitian relief funds.
The usage of social media and technology in response to this crisis is groundbreaking. Obviously, social media as a medium for charity has its pros and cons. However, the actions taken in the wake of this earthquake are unlike anything that has been seen before, and could possibly mark a new age in what social media means: something beyond entertainment, which attempts to actually link human beings together.
Immediately following the earthquake in Haiti, users of social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook jumped into the news coverage sphere, posting breaking-news information and photographs that often overshadowed the efforts of more mainstream journalists.
Social media platforms also helped spread the news, perhaps drawing the attention of those who otherwise might not have heard so much about the tragedy. News agencies are looking to use sites such as Facebook, Twitter and others to reach out to the college-age demographic, whose news consumption has migrated almost entirely online-the reporting of the disaster in Haiti may be an example of a success story for this tactic.
Perhaps the biggest impact social media has had on this story, however, is the emergence of social media donations. Organizations such as the Red Cross have earned over $5 million through simple text messages alone, and although some are wary of the potential for exploitation inherent in technological monetary transactions, the United States State Department has posted a list of legitimate charitable organizations whose text message services are certified. The popular Facebook application FarmVille raised $1.2 million by adding purchasable crops to their game, with the proceeds going to Haitian relief funds.