ParisLemon » TwitterQuake in San Fran

TwitterQuake in San Fran

Another day, another show of Twitter’s true power. Barely a week after the Southern California fires began and Twitter helped get out important messages to people, a 5.6 magnitude earthquake hits the Bay Area and info about is posted numerous times on Twitter before the ground is even done shaking. It’s barely been 30 minutes and already I have 4 solid pages of earthquake news and insight.

Ariel Waldman posted the first tweet about it (that I saw) and from there nearly ever blogger/tech geek/person in the entirity of the Bay Area has posted in on the quake – and many of the multiple times. I knew the exact location and magnitude before the story had even hit the news.

I say again, this is the power of Twitter.

Post by MG Siegler on 10/30/07
Comments

Miles W

Hey MG.

You talk about the power of Twitter. But really it is only useful for those in that area. I know it may be a tradegy felt worldwide, but really it doesn't serve those of us half a world away with the up to the minute stuff.

For Twitter to truly have power, it needs to have users like those in California (easily the most twittered state/region?) in order for this "power" that I hear talked about to have any impact on the rest of the internet world.

MG Siegler

@miles - that is a good point that a lot of Twitter traffic (at least the ones I follow) seems based out of California. Give it time though, big media is picking up on it more and more with events like this and that will help it spread.