When Facebook and Twitter came on the scene, most people only saw these sites and others like them as a way to disconnect, become online social instead of in-person social and littered with useless personal information. Even today, so many people continue attribute these sites only for trivial daily updates about a person’s life. This needs to change.

After Friday’s devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the only way most people were able to connect with family and friends was through social media. I read that while phone lines were down, Internet connections were intermittent allowing people to connect through Twitter, Facebook and Skype.

I also read that Twitter registered 1200 tweets per minute from Japan less than an hour after the earthquake hit.* I learned about it through Twitter.

And don’t forget that in 2008 the attacks in Mumbai were first reported through Twitter and Flickr.

I will admit I love sharing information through social media channels. Quotes, deals and savings, business information, and updates from my friends and family. But more and more, I see how important it is to sharing news, world news. And for that, I’m grateful.

*Source: Mashable.com

My thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.