At the end of the day, the most important news may be hyperlocal. On Election Day 2026, one might think those results matter greatly to most people who stay close to the hour-by-hour news updates. But what if their area was flooded with 16 inches of rain that stranded cars and blocked roads, canceled schools, and left people stuck in their homes without childcare or transportation? The election news of serious importance? Why is the drainage so poor? This kind of question may not be a national issue, but like many other local issues, it temporarily supersedes national stories. And that’s where Nextdoor comes in.
Neighborhoods matter most in times of crisis. Used by 110 million people today, the Nextdoor app was founded in 2008 and entered the US in 2011. It is accessed by people in neighborhoods, especially useful where people don’t know their neighbors. Going back to 2018, it has become an emergency beacon. People use it for help during storms and power outages, during hurricanes when shutters must be put up – “Please help me, my husband has a bad back!” The questions during a flood are specific about intersections – is this one flooded? Can a car get through to the school or grocery on that street? What roadways are closed?
Consider the clutter and deterioration of social media’s reputation this past year. Lawsuits pile up, with a particular focus on the negative impact on children. But social media scrolling and instantaneous feedback is also linked to depression in adults. Is the content useful and worth the 141 minutes spent? People stare at their phones, possibly waiting for something to happen or someone to respond to them. They walk into other people on the street or in a terminal. They speak their responses loudly and without regard to others. You know – you’ve seen it.
Consider Nextdoor's difference – what you need right now is what you (hopefully) find. The intersection is still blocked. The flooding has reached the inside of people’s homes. The power company is not expected to reach a neighborhood until 10:00 at night. Does anyone know of rides to take people to the polls? Ah yes, there’s an election today.
