This thesis explores how social media can be used as a tool in crisis communication. Employing theory on crises put forth by Coombs and Fediuk among others as foundation together with Benoit’s image restoration strategy, the ideas are juxtaposed social media theory presented by e.g. Wigley and Zhang. Using this literature as a framework, the study examines the online crisis strategy performed by the mobile company Research in Motion during a four-day network outage. The analysis takes material from Facebook and Youtube as its starting point. The findings of the thesis suggest that social media can be used as a beneficial tool when utilized effectively but also correspondingly harmful when not used accordingly. The factor of immediacy seems to be paramount to consider when navigating crises in an online world as well as the fact that stakeholders expect faster, more efficient communication when communicating through these conduits. Recommendations include assigning more value to crisis history and attribution of responsibility, as well as tailoring response strategies to the traits of social media to a higher degree.