When Social Media Becomes a Lifeline
Week 12: Crowd sourcing in times of crisis
We often use social media to share photos, watch videos, or chat with friends. However, during a crisis, these platforms can become much more important.
When natural disasters occur, communication systems are often disrupted at the exact moment people need information the most. In these situations, social media and crowdsourcing can help communities share updates, request assistance, and coordinate relief efforts.
According to Utimaco (n.d.), social media plays an important role during emergencies because it allows information to be shared quickly, enables real-time updates, and supports two-way communication between affected communities and emergency responders. This helps people receive warnings, report incidents, and access assistance more efficiently during a crisis.
One example is the Haiti earthquake in 2010, when a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck near Port-au-Prince, affecting an estimated three million people and leaving more than one million homeless. The disaster severely damaged infrastructure and communication systems, making it difficult for people to access information and assistance. During this crisis, the crowdsourcing platform Ushahidi was used to collect reports from people on the ground through text messages, emails, and social media posts. Volunteers around the world helped map this information in real time, allowing emergency responders to identify affected areas and provide assistance more effectively. This demonstrates how crowdsourcing can give citizens a voice during emergencies and support disaster response efforts through collective action (Britannica, 2026; Ushahidi, 2018).
Crowdsourcing works because it allows ordinary people to contribute information during emergencies. Instead of relying on a single organisation, thousands of individuals can share updates about road closures, damaged buildings, missing persons, or areas that require urgent help.
According to Riccardi (2016), crowdsourcing has become an important tool in disaster response because it improves communication, increases situational awareness, and helps responders make faster decisions.
However, crowdsourcing also comes with challenges. Information shared online may be inaccurate, outdated, or misleading. This means users must verify information before sharing it, especially during emergencies when false information can create confusion.
For me, one of the most interesting aspects of crowdsourcing is how it shows the power of online communities. Even people who are far away from a disaster can contribute by sharing information, creating maps, translating messages, or helping coordinate support.
In times of crisis, social media becomes more than a communication platformâit becomes a tool that allows communities around the world to work together and help those in need.
References
Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2026). 2010 Haiti earthquake. https://www.britannica.com/event/2010-Haiti-earthquake
Riccardi, M. (2016). The power of crowdsourcing in disaster response operations. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 20, 123â128.
Ushahidi. (2018, January 26). Ushahidi's crowdsourcing software gives people a voice in times of crisis.
Utimaco. (n.d.). What are the advantages of using social media during emergencies? https://utimaco.com/service/knowledge-base/emergency-communications-and-public-warnings/what-are-advantages-using











