SuperBowl 90999

Posted: Friday, February 5, 2010

This year, when the Saints meet the Colts in Miami for Superbowl XLIV, it will signify yet another battle other than the one on the football field. It’s the Saints’ Hurricane Katrina versus the Colts’ wide receiver, Pierre Garcon, and his heavy heart over his recently devastated home country, Haiti. In this battle of the storms, we can analyze how mobile marketing and social media have changed the landscape when it comes to people’s giving in regard to natural disasters.

In just four and a half years since Katrina, the way we have utilized technology has changed drastically, mostly due to the whirlwind growth of social media and people’s affinity for mobile communication.  In less than a week after the earthquake in Haiti, over $58 million was raised through text message, “90999", and that call to action was promoted heavily onli ne through every blog and social network.

Most importantly, in an era where the world moves so fast, the accessibility for the average college student or the stay-at-home mom to effortlessly pick up their mobile devices and text a message to donate money was more enticing than the much slower process of writing out a check, licking the envelope and driving it down to the post office. Make no mistake, as humans we are compelled to rise to the occasion when people need help. But, in an era of instant gratification where we prefer e-mail, skyping and online shopping, the use of text messaging and social media has made people that much more giving. Convenience for people is so important (and powerful) nowadays.

When Katrina hit New Orleans, there were 5.5 million active users on Facebook. When the earthquake rippled through Haiti, the amount of active users had far exceeded 350 million. There was no Twitter in the days of Katrina and although texting was around, it wasn’t nearly as prevalent as it is today.

It makes you wonder, had this technology been available at the time of Katrina, how the outcome of getting supplies and aid quickly to people may have been different?

Regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s big battle, it has without a doubt brought much needed positive energy to the city of New Orleans and will hopefully be used by the Colts as yet another source of support for the island of Haiti.