5 ways social media is helping victims of the New Zealand quake

The Web is deploying resources to help the scores killed and hundreds missing in Christchurch, New Zealand.

You can donate to the relief effort on a page created by the Red Cross.

As is often the case, victims of the quake—and their loved ones elsewhere—have turned to social media. Here are three ways social media is playing a part in the unfolding recovery efforts in New Zealand.

1. Google Person Finder helping locate victims. With communication lines disabled across Christchurch, authorities have encouraged residents to request information about the missing on Google’s Person Finder, according to The Telegraph. The online service has two tabs: one says, “I am looking for someone”; while the other says, “I have information about someone.” The site is currently tracking 5,000 records. Google also launched a crisis response page for the earthquake.

2. Christchurch is a trending topic worldwide on Twitter. Tweets are pouring in with prayers and well wishes for the victims of the earthquake. Twitter users are also sharing images of the devastation, and tweeting a map showing the aftershocks from the quake. The hashtag #EQNZ is also among those galvanizing the social media push.

To read the full story, log in.
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today

Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.