by Gloria Edmonson Nelson

Created on: January 27, 2010

Social networking, for example: Twitter, Facebook, and Twit Pics, to name a few; were viable resources immediately following the earthquake and has been for the past two weeks. In other words, the technology of 2010 has been responsible (and continues to be) for saving those who were texting, calling, sending emails, etc., and many were buried brick walls, for example. There were so many positive stories where family and friends were able to connect with family through Facebook, or they saw a family member's picture on the CNN's iReport page, etc.

Because the normal means of communication were useless following Haiti's earthquake (according to Daniel Sieberg, CBS News Correspondent), journalists and broadcasters used Twitter and Facebook to get in contact with each other. Family and friends were also able to connect with their two daughters who were running an orphanage in Port au Prince. Because of social networking, they were able to bring 53 children to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to foster homes and adoptive families. Supporters used Facebook and Twitter to spread the word. These children are among the first in the group of one million who are now orphans, some of whom will hopefully be evacuated to the United States and other countries. Families and friends used various websites to let the world know they were in dire need of food, water, diapers and a plan to bring them out of Haiti.

Twitter has been a major source of news about the earthquake, according to Jennifer Valentino, writer, Wall Street Journal.  For example, Jean Wyclef, musician, native of Haiti, was one of the first to go to Twitter almost immediately following the earthquake to raise money for Haiti through his charity, Yele Foundation.

Wyclef Jean (and others who are using the social networking websites to raise funds for Haiti) are not without controversy. There are questions regarding the amount of money spent on charities from the Yele Foundation, according to CNET's Matter/Anti/Mattter blog, who also points to Twitter's "growing power," who states, with these responsibilities or the ability to promote donations through texting, comes the questions as to whether the money is going to Haiti. Wyclef Jean has responded via tweets that he plans to go on Oprah Winfrey's Show to explain in detail the charity's use of funds. Despite controvery, the charities have grown tremendously through Facebook and Twitter, and the sites will continue

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>