80% of rescue hashtags unrelated to calls for help during July deluge

About 80 percent of the cases of the hashtag #kyujo -- meaning rescue in Japanese -- being posted on Twitter during the deadly disaster caused by heavy rains in July were unrelated to calls for help, according to a study.While noting that rescue calls should be made over the phone in principle, study leader Shosuke Sato, associate professor at Tohoku University, urged users not to post unnecessary tweets in emergencies. "Tweets from people who genuinely need help could be lost," he said.When no other means are available, Twitter Japan recommends users add the hashtag together with their det…READ FULL ARTICLE