Google search says:
“Nepal on ‘War Footing’ as quarter of population hit by quake”
“Nepal Earthquake: Death Toll passes 4,600 as rescuers face challenges”
“Nepal Villages Cut Off by Earthquake Wait for Aid as Death Toll Passes 4,000”
New York Times, BBC, FOX, CNN, Time and ABC News are just a few examples of the extensive reporting that covers the recent tragedy in Nepal. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the South Asia country on Saturday, April 25. The death toll has risen above 6,000 people and is still increasing. Articles concerning the state of the citizens, relief efforts, funding, the damage to buildings, water pollution and many more heavily populate the Internet.
Even sources such as Buzzfeed, Vice News, Twitter and Reddit are reporting on the devastation that grips Nepal. Facebook has a “Donate Now” button located on the home page and pledged to contribute an additional two million dollars. This topic is plastered on social media, radio, television, print news and day-to-day conversation.
The Internet gives the human race the chance to receive news the moment something occurs. Individuals are connected across thousands of miles and can exchange gossip and topics of interest at an alarmingly rapid pace. It also creates focused areas of interest. People can pick and choose what they wish to hear and see. Stories are no longer alienated on three to five main news sources. Nevertheless, one would think that with the arrival of the Internet, news would be shared across multiple platforms. We have the ability to create not only nationwide, but worldwide statements such as the ASL Bucket Challenge, body image movements and environmental protests.
Why do half the people I have spoken to in the last week not know about Nepal? It is estimated that fatalities will reach 10,000 people. Images of people crushed beneath buildings, children wandering the streets without parents and over packed hospitals exist on every media forum. Relief efforts are shouting at the public to donate money to ease the distress and sorrow.
I don’t see a collaborative effort within my Twitter feed to start a fundraiser. I don’t see Snapchat creating a public story to share images and urge people to give help in any way. I do see a friend’s late night party with a fifth of tequila on my Instagram. I do see Facebook debates on whether or not Marcus Mariota will be a decent fit for Tennessee. Our use of the Internet needs work. Priorities are backwards. Hundreds of people are dying everyday in Nepal, and we are arguing about the football draft. Forgive me if I am skeptical when someone asks, “Wait, what about Nepal?”
A topic such as the football draft is exciting to talk about and it is important to many people. It is especially relevant to the University of Oregon because of the connection the school has with Mariota. But, we can also connect to the individuals that have lost family members. We can connect to the feelings of love and community. We can connect to what it means to have a home. The issue is that we are not talking about matters such as Nepal. This bubble in college does not last forever and for a device that is supposed to link people and topics from around the globe, the Internet seems to be causing a disconnection. The way we use it does not reflect well-informed people.
We have every tool to build a world in which we address important topics. Presently, the Internet is used to ignore news. With one click we have the power to pretend like an earthquake didn’t happen. But, in doing so we are ignoring humanity. Horrible things happen and to disregard that fact is blatant indifference to reality. It is disrespect to Nepal.
It is time to begin utilizing social media as a tool to not only share posts and pictures from our own lives, but to also keep each other informed about the state of the world. Start reading the news. Begin discussing world issues. If we are the future, then maybe we should understand the present state of the world so that we know how to help and rely on one another when bad things happen.