Whilst CNN, The Red Cross and the New York Times have already started to compile missing persons lists, it has been Facebook which has provided the largest following, with 160,000 users. Meanwhile, Skype has been used by Haiti based journalist Pierre Cote in an attempt to provide news reports to many stations around the world. “If I’m not doing it, no one will do it – the traditional media won’t do it. The community need it so for me it’s a service to the community to bring it all together,” he explained.

Meanwhile, as Twitter continues to raise awareness and provide aid support links to millions across the globe, Ushahidi has provided up to the date information support. Operating on a free, open-source platform, the service rafts detailed compilations of data over geographical regions, allowing aid workers amongst others to access data such as aftershock tremor locations, where aid needs to be supplied, and where water shortages are occurring.

As the support and clean up after the earthquake continues, it is likely that social media will remain at the centre of awareness, not only in providing data on specific regions but to keep the public informed long after the news reports have ceased.

With a number of companies arguing that those paying for content should be given priority over those who don’t, the FCC head said “There are few goals more essential in the communications landscape than preserving and maintaining an open and robust internet. It is vital that the internet continue to be an engine of innovation, economic growth, competition and democratic engagement.”

Favouring a need to maintain network neutrality, the first regulation would stop bandwidth intensive content such as video streaming being blocked or slowed by internet service providers (ISPs). The second would bring transparency to how ISPs managed network traffic. “They cannot block or degrade lawful traffic over their networks, or pick winners by favouring some content or applications over others in the connection to subscribers’ homes,” Mr Genachowski expressed before adding, “Nor can they disfavor an Internet service just because it competes with a similar service offered by that broadband provider.”

Planning to formally propose the regulations in October, ISP’s argue that the carrying video stream and other high bandwidth content causes overhead increases and that these costs should be paid for by consumers or websites.

With some countries access knocked out completely, many struggled to find ways to maintain contact with the rest of the world. Whilst some managed to reroute internet traffic through neighbouring countries, others had to use highly expensive satellite connections to limit the damage. Nigeria was particularly badly hit due to the fault being located in an area of the cable passing through Benin, the country which supplies Nigeria with up to 70per cent of their access.

Whilst the reason behind the fault has not been explained, the SAT-3 group sent a ship from Cape Town, South Africa to investigate. Carrying out repairs on Sunday morning, they managed to get West Africa back up and running.

The failure of the SAT-3 cable has highlighted the problem that is currently faced by West Africa, who have to rely on just one method to receive their fibre optic internet access. However, this is due to change next year after the completion of the Main One cable, with the completion of the West African Cable System due the year after in 2011.

Costing 7000yuan (£605), the teenager was taken to Guangxi Qihuang Survival Training Camp, where his father, Deng Fei, asked supervisors to avoid pressurising his son for the first few days due to his introverted and shy nature. However, shortly after arriving Senshan found himself in solitary confinement, before being beaten by trainers who chastised him for running slowly in a jogging exercise.

A police officer investigating the teenager’s death said “We are investigating a case where a high school student was beaten to death by his camp supervisors. The case is still under investigation.” So far they have made four arrests.

China currently has 338 million internet users, of which 100 million are teenagers. Mental health specialist Zhang Zhao said “I can tie my patients to the chair in front of me, but I cannot unlock their hearts. Nobody can cure addicts without their co-operation.” Meanwhile Zhan Wenbin who is principle of a similar centre for curing internet addicts said that physical training, mental consultation and complete immersion were needed to cure the obsession.

Mr Deng, Senshan’s father said “My son was very healthy and was not a criminal. He just had an internet addiction when I left him at the camp. We can’t believe our only son was beaten to death.”

The faulty cable, which is owned by Suburban Telecom and runs from Spain and Portugal, passing West Africa and on to South Africa, has left much of Benin, Niger, Nigeria and Togo in the dark and offline. Nigeria in particular has been badly hit, losing 70per cent of its bandwidth which has had a knock on effect on their banking, mobile phone and governmental sectors.

Explaining the huge problem, Suburban Telecom’s chief marketing officer Ladi Okuneye said “SAT-3 (the cable involved) is currently the only fibre optic cable serving West Africa. So all West African countries have to use it.”

The fault in the cable is thought to be in the Benin area, bring problems to Nigeria as most of the country’s bandwidth is passed through Benin. “The rest of the system is unaffected by this fault” a representative from Telkom South Africa said, confirming that the fault seemed to be only in one place.

Whilst Benin has been able to reroute some of its broadband through neighbouring countries, and Nigeria struggles to continue with its remaining 30per cent, Niger and Togo are offline. Many companies are resorting to other communication methods, such as satellite links, to remain operational.