Haiti and Social Media

I was surprised to see how much of a role social media played in helping Haiti. Many people in Haiti were saved via Facebook and Twitter. The sites were used as a life line. People were able to ask for/get help for friends and family trapped in rubble and debris from the earthquake. Social media helped to spread word of the disaster. CNN even created a website called iReport, where through the use of social media people reported on the quake. CNN now uses it as a legitimate source for news gathering.

Even now social media is still being used in reference to Haiti. There is a charity text message campaign telling people to donate money to Haiti and where to send it. I actually just received one of those text messages the other day. It is shocking to see how social media is helping to bring the world together and pitch in to help Haiti. Social media can be a very useful tool in a disaster.