. Earth Science News .
ABOUT US
Nextdoor, the network for neighbors, grows in age of social distancing
By Glenn CHAPMAN
San Francisco (AFP) March 29, 2020

There are offers to pick up groceries or medicine for neighbors, to share supplies, or walk people's dogs -- and even intel on where to find scarce items like toilet paper.

For people forced to stay home to ride out the coronavirus pandemic, Nextdoor, a hyperlocal social network, has found itself playing an increasingly important role.

Daily usage of the network -- an ad-supported privately held start-up which touts itself as a a local alternative to Facebook -- soared 80 percent in March as people looked to connect more with neighbors.

"What we are seeing is proximity matters more than anything right now," Nextdoor chief executive Sarah Friar told AFP.

"There is a real need in our lives for people who live close by."

Nextdoor is free. The only caveat is that users must verify who they are and live in the real-world location that comports with the boundaries of the online neighborhood network they wish to join.

Launched in late 2011 as a variation on town squares where people could get to know neighbors and catch up on local news, San Francisco-based Nextdoor now boasts 260,000 neighborhoods across 11 countries including Australia, Britain, France, Italy, Spain, and the US.

"I am really touched by the amount of community spiritedness; people helping out, shopping for one another," said Nextdoor user Paulina Borsook.

Borsook lives on a hill overlooking Monterey Bay on the edge of Silicon Valley, and is among those grappling with not venturing outside because their age makes it risky in a time of coronavirus.

"I am used to getting lemons from neighbors, but relying on them for groceries is much different," she said.

- Help map -

Earlier this month, Nextdoor launched an interactive "help map" which lets people indicate how they are able to help with chores, errands or other needs.

"Happy to do any errands that don't require heavy lifting," one user in the suburbs of the US capital wrote. "I'm a fantastic grocery shopper too!"

Nextdoor users share word of which restaurants have take-away food, what precautions are in place at local markets -- and even ideas to soothe one another at a stressful time.

"I will be putting our Christmas lights back up tomorrow to add some cheer back to the neighborhood," read a Nextdoor post in a Santa Cruz county community.

"They aren't super elaborate, but I think it will give us all something beautiful to look at night while walking. Please join me."

Nextdoor is also being used as a platform to support local businesses; collect donations for food banks, and connect parents dealing with educating children at home because schools are closed.

"There is genuine isolation, loneliness, but there is also kindness kicking in," Friar said.

"Usage is off the charts at the moment."

- Nearby news -

Nextdoor has long collaborated with agencies and governments to connect with local citizens, positioning it as a hub for local news and resources. It has been used in the past by the US Census Bureau and Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Now, the California governor's office is using the social network to provide neighborhood-specific updates about what the state knows and is doing regarding the coronavirus.

"I find it really valuable for hyperlocal news," Borsook said of Nextdoor, adding that neighbours are posting information "I am not getting anywhere else."

While Nextdoor watches for misinformation or scams, it benefits from being based on verifying that those who join the social network are who they say they are and live where they say they do.

"The underpinnings are strong from a trust perspective," Friar said.

"When people post, they post with real names so you have more accountability."

Neighbors can report dubious content to the social network while also directly challenging it in the online community.

"If you post something nonsensical, people will call you out on it," Borsook said.

"There is more a sense of 'we are all in this together.'"

Like Facebook, Nextdoor has seen advertising dip due to the economic disruption of sheltering-in-place, but it is also catching the eyes of restaurants, health care facilities, insurers and other businesses adapting to the crisis.

"We do, clearly, have advertisers on the platform that have pulled back," Friar said.

"On the other side, we are seeing companies lean in that didn't know us before and want to be there in this moment."


Related Links
All About Human Beings and How We Got To Be Here


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


ABOUT US
Analysis reveals prehistoric migration from Africa, Asia, Europe to Mediterranean
Washington DC (UPI) Feb 26, 2020
Populations from Africa, Asia and Europe were migrating to the Mediterranean islands prior to the establishment of seafaring civilizations in the Mediterranean, according to new analysis of ancient DNA. For the study, scientists sequenced the DNA of prehistoric individuals recovered from Sicily, Sardinia and the Balearic Islands. The study increased the number of analyzed genomes from individuals from the Mediterranean islands from five to 66. The genetic analysis, described this week in ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

ABOUT US
Hong Kong starts standing down riot police after budget hike

Under-fire Trump defends coronavirus response

Hong Kong to give big cash handouts as economy reels from virus

Coronavirus outbreak fuels China black market for supplies

ABOUT US
Print sprint: Bosnians 3D print face-shields to combat coroanvirus

Creating custom light using 2D materials

Raytheon awarded $17 million for dual band radar spares for USS Ford

Time-resolved measurement in a memory device

ABOUT US
Lockheed Martin receives $12.3 million to develop underwater drone

Satellite data boosts understanding of climate change's effects on kelp

Study shows changes in Great Barrier Reef fish during heat wave

The mighty Nile, threatened by waste, warming, mega-dam

ABOUT US
Hidden source of carbon found at the Arctic coast

How horses can save the permafrost

Increasingly mobile sea ice risks polluting Arctic neighbors

GRACE, GRACE-FO satellite data track ice loss at the poles

ABOUT US
Kenya bans controversial donkey slaughter trade

DR Congo latest victim of locust swarms: experts

Dutch destroy millions of flowers as coronavirus wilts sales

Land-cover maps of Europe from the Cloud

ABOUT US
Powerful quake damages buildings in Croatia capital

Greek quake damages buildings, no casualties reported

Quake rattles Salt Lake City, damages Mormon temple

Study of shear zones yields data on earthquakes deep below surface

ABOUT US
Africa's weak health systems face escalating virus peril

Boko Haram attack kills nearly 100 Chadian troops

Norway rejects French request to send forces to Mali

After head start on virus, Africa begins clampdown

ABOUT US
Long-overlooked arch is key to fuction, evolution of human foot

Analysis reveals prehistoric migration from Africa, Asia, Europe to Mediterranean

Scientists classify neurons by measuring their jiggle during a heartbeat

'Little Foot' skull reveals how this more than 3 million year old human ancestor lived









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.