Lately, in my own personal journey to research the H1N1 vaccine, I have run into a flurry of helpful and inventive social media tools online.

At the forefront of this seems to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – who have begun using social media tools including Twitter, YouTube, widgets, social networking sites and podcasts to deliver dependable and up-to-date information to the public and health professionals and to reach new audiences.

On the CDC Novel H1N1 Flu Web page, you can find a list of applications, including a Twitter feed for emergency information including H1N1 flu, buttons, badges, e-cards, a mobile version of the website and a texting pilot project, which provides information on seasonal flu, H1N1 flu and public health emergencies and more.

Smart move by the CDC. I am sure they will prove helpful to thousands as the H1N1 flu continues to spread across the country.

Tagged as: CDC, Facebook, H1N1, social media, twitter

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This morning I woke up to drive in rush hour traffic, almost not even aware of what day it was, when I saw a flag at half mast. As I looked at my phone to see the time, I realized it was Friday, September 11.

Quickly, my mind turned to that day, eight years ago. I was at my college, waiting for the doors to open outside of the Journalism lecture hall. As usual, there were televisions broadcasting news everywhere in the Journalism building, and I barely paid attention to them as I was usually catching up on last minute reading before class.

As the doors opened, and I entered class, there was the giant screen, with the image of the second plane crashing into the Twin Towers.

It was dead silent and I was in complete shock.

Like me, many Americans remember exactly where they were that day, what they were wearing, who they were with – and social media is giving all of us a chance to share our memories, accounts of lost loved ones and experiences that happened eight years ago today.

On Twitter (), numerous hashtags are being used to remember 9/11. I encourage all of us to remember, share and join together in remembering those who lost their lives, and those (like many of us who were young) that lost a big part of their innocence that day. Here are some of the most popular hastags of the day:

#whereiwas is being used to share accounts of where tweeters were when the attacks occured

#remember911 is a tag for sharing memories, opinions, sentiments and general feelings

#neverforget is being used to remember those who lost their lives on that fateful day.

Tagged as: 9/11, rememberance, social media, twitter

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Canadians are now combining politics and Twitter. A new website called TweetCommons, has been launched to connect Canadians with elected government representatives via Twitter.

Facilitating more multi-directional relationships between people and government,TweetCommons is is another important tool in breaking down the walls between governments and the people they represent – and is a perfect example of how social media is enabling the process.

Online participatory media practices like TweetCommons helps produce citizen-powered dialogue that includes, but is not driven by government officials, or the select spokespeople working for big media outlets.

TweetCommons is helpful tool for all Canadians. Besides being an entry point to contact government, it is a pathway for people to join in on conversations, chime in on issues important to them and to have their voice heard.

http://www.tweetcommons.com/

Tagged as: Canada, Digital Activism, Government, Online Engagement, TweetCommons, twitter

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An Israel university student is using the popular social networking service, Twitter, to help people Tweet God.

Alon Nir, a resident of Tel Aviv, takes the prayers which are sent via direct link on Nir’s Twitter site, prints them out and drives to Jerusalem to put them into the crevices of the Western Wall. The Western Wall is a Jewish holy site that faithful believe provides a direct line to the Almighty.

Nir promises to deliver the prayers — each no longer than a tweet’s maximum 140 characters — on a regular basis.

Tagged as: Digital Activism, social marketing, social media, social networks, twitter

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