Do you consider social media to be helpful in natural disasters like this?

Yes, I think social media is a great resource to help spread awareness about natural disasters like this. Not only because of the extra attention the disaster is getting but also because social media is mostly used by young people and so they are confronted with these situations. It creates a bigger amount of awareness and it opens debate over the situation and how the world should react.

In your opinion, would the Dutch Giro 555 have earned just as much money without the use of social media?

I do not think so. For example, my little nephew who’s just 13 years old has gone by houses to collect money for the people in the Philippines. Obviously he did not raise a lot of money but it shows that even the youngest users of social media are aware and willing to donate. I think that social media helps spreading the news and because of that the news is coming too more potential donors. Also the fact that the disaster was such a big topic on social media makes more people aware of the seriousness of the situation and makes people not forget about the disaster and that makes them, I think, donate quicker.

How did the SHO/Red Cross use social media after the typhoon hit the Philippines?

They posted on social media sites, like Facebook and Twitter, also they uses commercials on television to help bring awareness and asked for help and donations.

Do you think, without social media like Facebook and Twitter, just the news and papers, would the same amount of people have been informed?

I do not. I think that social media has a wide spread of users that have been informed who may not have been if it hadn’t been for social media. Most kids under sixteen do not read papers frequently, but they do read posts on their Facebook-wall and follow celebrities who Tweet about the disaster on Twitter. You can reach those who do not watch the news or read the papers through social media.

In previous actions of Giro 555 e.g. the tsunami in 2004, there was a lot less use to social media. Still, over two million hundred Euros were collected. Does this show social media are not essential? Or were there other factors influencing the outcome?

I think it does not show that social media is not essential but I do think it shows that social media is not the only way to reach people and be successful. In 2004 the recourses we had were different. Social media is very important now which it wasn’t back then. If it would have been, I think social media would have also been a very important source of information.

Are there any disadvantages to the use of social media concerning disasters like this? 

Most probably. There will always be people who, unknowingly and knowingly, spread false information. If the false information becomes a kind of trend and a lot of people believe it, it will be hard for readers to discover what’s truth and what isn’t. But I do believe that if you want to find out the truth, it is still possible. You just have to do good research and not believe everything you read.

How big is the influence of famous people and celebrities? 

I think celebrities can always rely on their fans, also in situations like this. They can ask for awareness and donations of their fans and many will answer the call. International celebrities are able to reach a big amount of people in all different countries, making their call for help more successful.

It has almost been two months since typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines. Is it right to say that, however sad, people seem to be forgetting about it already?

Yes I think it is. It’s not like they have forgotten, they kind of think it has gone away by now. I think they forget that this kind of disaster cannot be solved within two months. There hasn’t been so much attention for the disaster in the news and on social media anymore so people haven’t had that much attention for it themselves. The big hype has gone by.  

If not, does the use of social media help to keep the attention drawn to the country? 

I think that social media helps us not to forget about the country in some way, but it also draws a lot of attention to other things that are a hype right now.