While people used to see Twitter as simply a platform to publish meaningless comments and animal pictures, there is no doubt that it has become one of the first ports of call when it comes to  getting the latest headlines and gossip.

This was exemplified recently when video-streaming service Netflix was forced into releasing a tool which allowed fans of the popular TV series Breaking Bad to use Twitter without the fear of being exposed to major spoilers before getting the chance to see the show themselves.

As well as discussing the latest moves of television’s most famous drug dealers, people use Twitter to pass on serious news and updates to the rest of the world – often before the news crews have even turned up to the scene.

The latest move by the micro-blogging site has further highlighted its importance and contribution to the way in which information travels around the globe. Earlier this week, Twitter launched a new alerts system in an attempt to make it easier for government officials and emergency services to stay on top of what’s going on in the world when it is most important.

As of Tuesday, the new alerts site was made available to government organisations at every level. The access has also been given to groups linked to crisis aid and avoidance, such as the Red Cross and a number of health services.

The new feature will see those with access given the ability to share critical information with general users. It is hoped that by assisting in the sharing of such important information, Twitter can harness its undeniable power to prevent situations of crisis or at least streamline reaction processes across the world.

The update emphasises the importance Twitter now plays in modern society. With millions of active users spread across the world, it has great power, and here at Pressroom we’re glad to see this clout being put to good use.

Graeme Parton

Graeme has experience creating content for online sources and for the radio, and at university he studied Multimedia Journalism.