The citizens of Vancouver are looking to undo the damage of the soon-to-be infamous Canucks Riot, which took place after Game 7 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals. Canucks fans flooded the streets after a 0-4 loss against the Bruins, overturning and igniting cars, smashing storefront windows, looting and partaking in various other criminal acts. In the aftermath, vigilant Vancouver residents have taken to the web as way to organize and target efforts.

The Facebook event “Post Riot Clean-up” has garnered more than 11,000 attendees in the few hours since created. The event creators have coordinated with the Vancouver Police Department, which has permitted the event members to assist in the clean up process. The event provides its attendees with streets and locations that are in need of assistance.

The Vancouver Police Department has also played a social role in the Canucks Riot. With nearly 14,000 followers, the Vancouver Police Department Twitter account voiced its disappointment with rioting citizens:

In the hours since, the Vancouver Police Department has urged citizens to evacuate downtown, identified areas in need and thanked various groups for their assistance throughout the clean-up process.

Twitter account VancouverClean has also popped up as an updating service for those participating in the Post-Riot Clean-up Facebook event. The group has been providing positive, motivational tweets to encourage Vancouver citizens in the recovery:

But cleaning up the city is not the only concern for Vancouver citizens. The police department is encouraging Facebook and Twitter users to upload their photos and videos taken of the Canucks Riot and tag any identifiable participants where they can. Tumblr accounts have been created, including  http://vancityriotcriminals.tumblr.com/, which is aiding in the identification of Vancouver rioters. In an age where everyone has a camera in their pocket, the Vancouver Police Department’s use of targeting criminals is a nod to social media and the potential it has for law enforcement.

As the hockey post-season ends with a bang, the repercussions will surely be felt as more evidence begins to surface.

As my first week passed as a new user, I tried extremely hard to “fit in.” It wasn’t working for me. This was when I took into account that Twitter was different from Facebook and all other social media platforms I was used to. I had to figure out the strategy of Twitter in order to survive on it. Businesses must do the same thing. Everyone’s strategy is different, and it takes time to figure it out. Once you figure out your strategy, you’re not done. You should always continue to evolve and get into different places.

For my personal Twitter account I like to tweet about social media news and converse with others on this. I also throw in a personal spin, such as tweeting about sports and the weather. One must realize though, Twitter isn’t to be used for status updates- my followers don’t care that I am painting my nails. If you feel you want to share that you are painting your nails though, tweet at a salon owner for their opinion on tones that work well with pale skin in the winter. You will likely get a response from a salon owner and other people that are following you with their advice and opinions. Another example is tweeting about NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL trades. You have the ability to converse with others on trades you agree with or disagree with and why. This also allows you to build your own community on Twitter.

So the next time you hear someone talking about how much they cannot stand Twitter, realize this: they cannot stand it because they either don’t know how to use it correctly or they are afraid of it. What are you doing still reading this- start tweeting!

-Lauren
Follow me on Twitter @LaurenBarber7