While the thick of hurricane Sandy's wrath may have passed NYC and is venturing onward, the aftermath left many completely awe-struck and stranded sans electricity with plenty of damage to tend to. And whether you watched the storm unravel from out your apartment window, on the local news, or online — there’s no denying that first-hand information and snaps rolling in from social-media properties were largely responsible and credited for keeping us clued in. Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook were rife with second-by-second updates on new developments, often times providing us with more 411 at a faster pace.
According to NYMag, it's events like these that are social-media turning points and really make us evaluate the wealth of breaking information that is being delivered across user-generated platforms, and that perhaps turning to social media takes precedence over other forms of traditional media.
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While peeps will often argue that apps like Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter are isolating and in some cases make us feel lonelier — in Sandy’s case it actually worked in a unifying, all-encompassing way of virtually banding people together. As the storm touched down, folks shared personal pics and updates, offering their perceptions on the situation at a beyond-rapid pace (Instagram reports there were 10 posts per sec).
However, amid these personal blurbs, people presenting fake snaps, exaggerated tales, and stranger-than-fiction status updates did become an issue. So, weeding through the B.S. and deciphering what is what definitely becomes a challenge. What do you make of the social media coverage of Sandy? Did you find it useful, overwhelming, or annoying? Weigh in below!
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Photo: Via Lisa Bettany