| Social networking is something which polarises opinion. | | | | community and helped to co-ordinate people from |
| Individuals with a passion for online interaction revel in | | | | across the globe in trying to achieve the singular aim |
| it, online marketers thrive on it and the majority of | | | | of providing aid. This pulling together using social |
| employers despair of the impact it can have on | | | | networking is in the process of happening again in the |
| employee productivity. It cannot however be | | | | face of the disruption caused to international travel |
| doubted that websites such as Facebook and | | | | caused by the volcanic ash cloud. Facebook pages |
| Twitter are developing absolutely gigantic presence | | | | such as 'The Volcanic Ash Cloud!' have developed into |
| online and in the face of their growing popularity and | | | | places where local information is shared and true |
| the comfort users are developing with medium: the | | | | community spirit is rife in trying to help those |
| manner in which they are used is constantly | | | | stranded by the air travel restrictions. |
| transforming and diversifying. | | | | Twitter has also played a major part in rapid |
| Although the most common form of interaction on | | | | information sharing, with many airlines, travel |
| Facebook is communication with friends: as has | | | | operators and even airports using the website to |
| always been the case, additional uses have become | | | | share news and advice on an as it happens basis. As |
| apparent. The 'events' function is a very popular | | | | many other websites succumb to downtime as a |
| means of inviting people to an event whilst | | | | result of overcapacity, social networks have proven |
| businesses and organisations now use 'pages' and | | | | to be reliable forms of communication for those |
| 'groups' to interact with customers and interested | | | | desperately searching for news. |
| parties. In the light of recent crises however some | | | | Social networking by its very nature is sculpted by |
| users have found another, more philanthropic use for | | | | the interaction of its users, it is essentially a conduit |
| the website. | | | | for the dissemination of a message and changing |
| The disaster in Haiti shook the world. In response to | | | | trends relatively accurately demonstrate the way in |
| this tragedy, thousands if not millions looked to offer | | | | which people view the medium. It could be |
| their support to victims and generally help out in | | | | legitimately asserted that websites such as Facebook |
| whatever way they could. Facebook and other social | | | | and Twitter do not only lend themselves to |
| networking websites availed themselves as the ideal | | | | procrastination, but also legitimate sharing and |
| medium for the extremely rapid creation of an online | | | | discussion. |