Will social media go too far? 1

IT | Vibeka Mair | 25 Jan 2010

This isn’t another blog wildly enthusing about social/new media, despite its indispensible role in supporting the relief effort to Haiti.

I avidly follow the development of the Wild Web, noting this week that we’ve had the very first tweet from space and loving the touching story of a seven-year-old raising £100,000 and counting for Haiti.

But can it go too far?

Take CNN’s quasi-Google Earth tracking the tragedy in Haiti. While oddly compelling, what does it gain? Do I feel more connected to Haiti and more inspired to donate to the cause or is this simply rubber-necking for the digital age?

I can imagine future real-time videos of relief efforts, where one can walk around virtually and see what's happening at that very moment. While I can see the positives - connection, empathy etc, would this be going too far?

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Gareth Jones
Editor
Civil Society IT
25 Jan 2010

I thought that CNN technology was pretty amazing actually, really makes you feel as if you are there (almost). Could really help to bring home to people the realities of future tragedies.

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