(Mashable) -- We've seen some major world events unfold on the social media stage in the past week, the biggest being Google's threat to pull out of China and the Haiti earthquake. Google's actions have brought attention back to the long-standing Internet censorship that blankets China, while the destruction in Haiti has mobilized hundreds of thousands to open their wallets and their hearts. Just like the Iran election crisis, those events are causing people to reassess the impact of social media on the world. It's clear that social media has the power to impact world politics and the lives of billions, but some have overstated what social media can actually do. We need to understand what social media really is in order to use it effectively for social good.
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Author: Social media has helped mobilize people in China, Haiti and Iran
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After Haiti's earthquake, aid groups solicit donations by text message
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Social media's ability to help people has been overstated in the past, author says
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Ultimately, technology and social networks are tools people must use
In the end though, social media didn't topple any governments, although it has helped shift the political climate in @placeholder.