Had Iceland's volcanic ash made its way into Europe about 5 years back, the effects would most definitely have been more devastating and things would have been much more difficult for the thousands of people stranded away from home, because back then, there was no social networking helping people find their way home.

People all across the world, over the past few days, have been getting messages from friends, acquaintances and family members stuck in Europe through social networks like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.

With travel information websites crashing under the constant pressure of online inquiries, stranded traveler turned their attention to Twitter and Facebook.

Right from the Calais Rescue service which was organized through Twitter to bring foot passengers from across France back home in a small boat, to Skjutsgruppen, to the Swedish carpool movement putting together lifts from across Europe on Facebook, social networking and wireless technology managed to find a new purpose in the situation.

It has been reported that the Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg, was utilizing an Apple iPad in an airport executive lounge in New York to run his country effectively.