The Quake felt across social media

This week, as we sat discussing our future career prospects, the building shook.

It wasn't the lecture that moved us; it was an earthquake.

The quake was relatively mild, it only registered 5.5 on the Richter scale. It was only enough to feel a gentle shake of your chair or desk and many people did not feel it at all. In fact, as a couple students raised their voices in alarm, a few students vocally denounced the danger or existence of a 'quake.

Before I even stopped shaking, students were on twitter and facebook, trying to figure out what just happened. Seconds later, it was verified: Toronto had an earthquake!

What was most interesting was that Twitter was viewed by the whole class as being a credible source for this kind of information. Anyone can open a Twitter account and post anything they like. However, there is something about the power of people In number that validates anything that is posted in great numbers. One student even commented, "Isn't it funny that everyone is on Twitter and not cp24's website?" I have to agree. We all (myself included) sought out information from our closest social media source. Facebook and Twitter told us that the quake was felt in Ottawa and Sudbury. CP24 could not give us that information as quickly as social media.

Why does social media react so quickly to current events? I think it has something to do with the desire of people to proclaim that they were part of something. Also, people want to "be the first" and those who got on their twitter fast enough were likely very pleased that they were the first "reporters on the scene." Although I was immediately Tweeting on my iPod, reading a tweet from cityTV was more valid in my mind than the random tweets from my friends.