People go social when in trouble, notes American Red Cross

Social networking may just be a way of enhancing one’s social network for some. Well, of course, that is what it is intended to do. But for some, social networking ends up being a life saver. According to a recent survey-based research carried out by the American Red Cross Society, people shared a certain affinity with a social network, especially when their lives were at risk owing to a disaster, be it natural like a tsunami or an earthquake or a man-made one like a bomb explosion. 

Going social, when trouble strikes

The survey which recorded the responses of over 2,047 participants across America was conducted across both the online, as well as telephonic platforms. The results showed that almost 69 percent of those who were surveyed on the online platform believed that disaster response teams should check the disaster updates on social networking platforms to act more promptly. Additionally the surveys also depicted that also in order to deliver news of their well-being, or simply learn of the situation better, people depended considerably on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, other parameters of the online platform and mobiles to get the task done. 

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The japan tragedy

A recent instance of the relevance of this survey is the tragedy that befell Japan, earlier this year. Those who followed news updates would know the mayhem that followed. However, amidst all the destruction and death around, what’s worth mentioning is the role social media played in the entire scenario. Those following our updates too, would remember Google, in the wake of the disaster launched its People Finder: 2011 Earthquake tool, which proved to be indispensible.

Among the other ear-marked findings of the survey report, are:

• Internet, especially Facebook had the third largest number of people falling back onto to gather as much as information on the disaster, or their loved ones. 
• As much as 24 percent of the general population, and 31 percent of the online population used the social media as their information tool
• As much as 80 percent of the general and 69 percent of the population were of the opinion that the national emergency response teams should monitor the social networking platforms to better treat the situation.
• Among those who pitched in for a help request on the social media, as many as 39 percent used online polls, and only 35 percent used the telephone.