As news began to spread of the massacre at a Connecticut elementary school, people around the world immediately took to their favorite social media to react, to extend sympathy, and to express their opinions on the nation's latest tragedy.

On the popular aggregator TweetDeck, a column set to search the term "Connecticut school shooting" looked like a dial on a slot machine, updating so rapidly none of the posts could be read.

Most included the hastag "#ctshooting."

On Facebook, dozens began commenting on KRMG's page even before the shocking numbers were fully confirmed.

"So very tragic and sad! Prayers for all of those children, staff, and for their families!" wrote one woman.

One man had a more apocalyptic view of events. "We're in the last days if you didn't know. Now ya know. Get right with God," he wrote.

And of course, with the nation polarized politically, calls for gun control.

"Politicians offer prayers after Connecticut shooting," Tweeted one man. "Try offering a g%*&^%$ law."

A search on any popular search engine turns up tens of thousands of pages directly related to the breaking story, even as details just began to filter out of the small suburb of Newtown, Conn.