In what ways did Twitter help people in Christchurch?
Twitter has enabled Cantabrians and people all around the world to communicate with eachother. It was very useful during the Christchurch quake because when there was confusion everywhere, people were able to Tweet the whereabouts of loved ones or their own location and people all around the world would be able to see this and contact someone that could help.
Quote Examples of tweets that show the different uses.
When Michelle Gourley in Kaiapoi tried to telephone her father, John Gourley in Opawa to see how he was after the Christchurch earthquake, she could not get through.
Fearing that 70-year-old John had been injured or killed, she set off in her car to drive there. But, stuck in traffic, she called her sister Joanne in Auckland.
They both decided to call their brother Sean in San Francisco, who put a message on the Twitter social network asking the world if anyone was close to his father's house. Moments later a stranger replied: "Sean I'm near Opawa, what's address."
After being given the address, the stranger found John Gourley sitting in his car outside his badly damaged house. Michelle Gourley arrived three hours later and took him back to Kaiapoi.
How do people use the Twitter functions
People use Twitter for instant communication around the world. It can be very useful in times of strife and need, when some people might not be able to get in contact with loved ones.
Why is Twitter good in a crisis?
Twitter users worldwide have been turning to the social media site to form a global community during the Christchurch earthquake disaster.
Increasingly media outlets were releasing their upcoming headlines prior to running their stories on the web and members of the public were rallying for support or seeking lost loved ones.
The most used hashtag on the site #EQNZ has been updating at a rate of around 20 new posts every 30 seconds for the first three days but by Thursday had slowed down to ten posts.
The New Zealand media has been using twitter to try and organise interviews on their arrival. Many television reporters would post to say they were arriving in Christchurch and ask if anyone would be interested in talking to them on camera.
Among the many updates coming through was a statement from Fairfax media through their social media editor Greer McDonald at stuff saying they were sad to confirm one of their colleagues at The Press newsroom was among the dead.
One of the more heart warming first person accounts from Auckland businessman Craig Garner who relayed a message from his child: “Our six yr old collected his tools and wanted to help get Christchurch “fixed” He estimated it would take him and his brother 97 days.”
Twitter has been used by many organisations to alert the public of places they can donate. Women’s Refuge said they need (baby) wipes, nappies, hand sanitiser, sanitary pads. Arise church asked people to bring in 20 litre water containers, long life milk, instant noodles and spreads like jam and peanut butter but the main message coming through is cash donations. Although largely positive messages there have been tweets asking people to make sure they have their facts are correct before posting as so many people were using the service to gain information.
Celebrities worldwide are also turning to twitter to raise awareness. Writer Neil Gaiman has been tweeting regularly with updates as his wife singer Amanda Palmer is understood to be currently in New Zealand as part of her ‘Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under’ tour.
New Zealand’s Next Top Model judge and host of New Zealand’s Hottest Home Baker Colin Mathura-Jeffree seemed to be glued to his twitter account relaying messages to his followers with the latest updates and support. Quoted from http://www.newswire.co.nz/2011/02/world-turns-twitter-in-crisis/
Increasingly media outlets were releasing their upcoming headlines prior to running their stories on the web and members of the public were rallying for support or seeking lost loved ones.
The most used hashtag on the site #EQNZ has been updating at a rate of around 20 new posts every 30 seconds for the first three days but by Thursday had slowed down to ten posts.
The New Zealand media has been using twitter to try and organise interviews on their arrival. Many television reporters would post to say they were arriving in Christchurch and ask if anyone would be interested in talking to them on camera.
Among the many updates coming through was a statement from Fairfax media through their social media editor Greer McDonald at stuff saying they were sad to confirm one of their colleagues at The Press newsroom was among the dead.
One of the more heart warming first person accounts from Auckland businessman Craig Garner who relayed a message from his child: “Our six yr old collected his tools and wanted to help get Christchurch “fixed” He estimated it would take him and his brother 97 days.”
Twitter has been used by many organisations to alert the public of places they can donate. Women’s Refuge said they need (baby) wipes, nappies, hand sanitiser, sanitary pads. Arise church asked people to bring in 20 litre water containers, long life milk, instant noodles and spreads like jam and peanut butter but the main message coming through is cash donations. Although largely positive messages there have been tweets asking people to make sure they have their facts are correct before posting as so many people were using the service to gain information.
Celebrities worldwide are also turning to twitter to raise awareness. Writer Neil Gaiman has been tweeting regularly with updates as his wife singer Amanda Palmer is understood to be currently in New Zealand as part of her ‘Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under’ tour.
New Zealand’s Next Top Model judge and host of New Zealand’s Hottest Home Baker Colin Mathura-Jeffree seemed to be glued to his twitter account relaying messages to his followers with the latest updates and support. Quoted from http://www.newswire.co.nz/2011/02/world-turns-twitter-in-crisis/
Compare it with Facebook
Twitter is more useful than Facebook in a crisis because you do not need a Twitter account to view other peoples Tweets. Unlike Facebook where you need an account to sign in.
Twitter is more useful than Facebook in a crisis because you do not need a Twitter account to view other peoples Tweets. Unlike Facebook where you need an account to sign in.
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