The financial crisis was brought about by the sector, an overvalued model, and incompetence of players who should have known better. But the digital world did have its part to play, as a tool and a conduit rather than a cause.  The speed and spread of communications can bring the dominoes tumbling with far greater rapidity. Traders worldwide are watching their screens and reacting instantly. Data is transferred instantly to investors, fund managers, the media and the world at large. But not just data – information, misinformation and rumour travel just as fast.  So while the credit crunch itself was due to staggering miscalculations and lack of competence, digital media was probably part of the conduit by which a crunch was turned into a crisis.