Times of Crisis: Social Media

Something as trivial as a day at school should be just that, trivial. Things should be normal.  People should wave at friends in the halls, pass notes in class, learn, and look forward to recess and lunch.  As we have seen in the tragedies in the US and across the ocean in China, sometimes days aren't so trivial.  This was truly a slaughter of the innocents.

Shortly after parents dropped off their children at Sandyhook Elementary in Connecticut, an emergency page/txt went out to parents with a generic message that there had been a shooting at a school.  Parents were advised not to pick up their children, which as any good parent can attest was largely ignored.    

Within hours word had spread through the US that something horrible had occurred within a small close knit town called Newtown Connecticut.  First, word that there had been a shooting arrived in fuzzy preliminary news reports.  Then as the day progressed twitter feeds and facebook posts presented information in greater detail from news outlets and spread like wildfire as messages were shared and then reshared.  Prayers were asked for, and given.  Disbelief and an overall feeling of heartbreak filled forums and chatrooms and trickled down various social media feeds from all over the world.  

Hashtags flew across the internet.  Everything from #NRA, #PrayForNewtown, #Sandyhook then as the day progressed and we learned more about the shooter... #AdamLanza.  

The power of social media during times of crisis elevates this service to a greater level.  It becomes 

a force of information leading reports and passing along news from locals and news outlets on the scene.  It becomes a valuable tool for those seeking loved ones and creating a network of information that becomes unmatched when eyewitness reports along with video and photos from the scene are shared.  

This blog is not about gun control, political statements, or the security in our schools...it's about being a part of a networked community.  It's feeling a sense of belonging and utilizing social media to support one another during times like this.  Sometimes sharing virtual information is the only way to hug someone, the only way to send a prayer or a well wish.  For these reasons, I am thankful for the advent of social media and for our ability as human beings to use it for good and for lifting up our neighbors when they need it most.  

So while social media is an excellent way to promote your business or help you with your marketing plans for 1Q...please remember that this tool is good for SO much more.  Remember always that there are thinking feeling beings at the other end of the terminal.  Try your best as you use social media to utilize it for more than just monetary enhancement.  Try using it to be social. 

This humble message was brought to you today by the letter E. Rest well little children. #PrayForNewtown