Technological World

Social Networking

Posted on: April 26, 2011

Everything these days is connected to the internet,its the one thing linking everyone, particularly social networking. Although the Japan disaster was a while ago, i was reminded today of the disaster through tumblr. A wide variety of people, particularly teens use social networking sites. When tumblr stopped working this popped up:

This is reaching a younger and wider audience, raising awareness and asking for help. It was quite bizarre to see this at first as it was incorporated with the over capacity notice but as you look into it there is everything from newspapers to blogs that covered this issue. This is because it is a conflict and has human interest. It’s not recent, as in the past week but things such as the tumblr message remind us of the impact and consequence of the disaster.

The international business times used elite persons (Lady Gaga and Charlie Sheen are mentioned) in their article to add interest and importance to the story highlighting the outreach internationally. They add in a quote from the Chinese Premier

“We will provide more as Japan needs it and we want to continue to help as necessary.”

and goes on to mention the other countries sending aid. The article also mentions how Lady Gaga has created bracelets that will support Japan, also how Charlie Sheen and P Diddy use twitter to raise awareness. The focus mainly being on elite persons and their role in the disaster. The article goes into depth about the technologies and how they were used in relation to the disaster.

BBC News chooses to focus on how the UK charities are helping Japan. They include the quote:

People’s desire to help is overwhelming and understandable”- DEC spokesman.

The issue in the article is that the British want to help Japan but are limited in their actions until Japan asks for more help. Unlike the Business Times the BBC mentions Japans position in the world, the position in the economy, the charities supporting the disaster and problems that might arise when helping Japan.

The New York Times covered the Japan disaster from the citizens point of view and how they used social networking. The article shows a picture taken from a citizen that posted a picture on their twitter. The article uses tweets from different people as examples, however the article mentions that the majority of Japan use Mixi and only 2% of the population use facebook emphasising the different technologies and social networking of the country. The article differs from the previous two as the focus of technology is mainly on Mixi and twitter while the BBC focuses on Britain and the charities (less technology) and the business times mentions a variety of technologies and focuses on elite persons.

The Australian covered the issue focusing on how technology is being used as a lifeline in the times of crisis while Computerworld covers how the Federal Government created the DFAT as a tool for Australians to help Japan, the technological way to help.

Mashable reveals 7 ways to help Japan via technology while One Green Planet lists 10 ways to aid Japan victims, these are less technological ways.

Basically all of these articles reveal the need to help and how the internet, technology and social networking has allowed society to become more involved and opened up new ways to help. The issue is covered from the citizens point of view to Australians to the business side of the disaster, all of this aims to highlight the role of technology in all aspects.


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