Helping the Help: How Social Media Has Aided Relief Efforts

We are all very aware of the natural disasters that have happened since the start of 2010.  Haiti in January, Chili this past Saturday, and nearly Hawaii. Aftermath news is plastered on all traditional fronts – from evening tv, websites and the antiques known as news papers. With all of those standard venues, something curious has evolved. It seems the most noteworthy news threads we follow are on social media platforms. We’re seeking instant news, in situations where every second matters.

TVs are on and newspapers are still delivered, but we’re depending on the people within our social media machines for most information. It has been an excellent structural support for organizations; within the last two months, a significant amount of benefit has come from what real time communication have made possible for relief efforts.

In the past, after initial damage and casualties were reported on standard televised news, and telethons aired to raised their funds, our attention would backslide. Now, we get to follow when the real work begins, as relief providers have it easier than ever to communicate. Like many organizations, the American Red Cross has taken full advantage of real time communication. Their Twitter alone is overflowing with fiscal follow ups, maps with their specific relief work locations in Haiti, US Citizen locator tools for Chile, and links to their own first hand video reporting by Red Cross workers on YouTube. With such substantial information streaming, they are more independent and effective than ever. It seems a significant amount of dependancy on major networks to get information to the public has been alleviated. By embracing multiple levels of social media, the American Red Cross has created their own microcosm of news production that everyone could learn from.

Of course none of us would have willed these natural disasters to have happened, but there is much to take note on how relief organizations were able to react. Such immediate gathering and mobilization of funds as well as people has been a major accomplishment by the Red Cross, as well as many others. As we keep studying, and even improve upon these progressive actions, we can all look forward to a greater silver lining after the affliction.