Social media portals such as Facebook and Twitter are used not only socially, but as methods of communications during emergency situations. From weather emergencies to criminal incidents, these portals allow us to instantly receive information and share it with others. In the past few years, we have become more dependent on social media to inform us during emergencies. I can personally say that I turn to Twitter to find out about an emergency before the newspaper or a news channel.
One notable event that acted as a transition into the “social media information age” would be the Boston Marathon Bombing. A whopping 25% of Americans received information, both correct and incorrect, from Facebook, Twitter, and other portals on the day of the event. “Social media helped people in Boston and beyond determine their next steps after hearing about the explosions,” said terrorism experts via a National Geographic article. Even with cell phones not working, runners and spectators turned to social media to inform friends and family that they were OK, and of the overall occurrences. The brevity of a tweet provides enough information to inform someone of a situation, without being to lengthy or giving every single detail. Twitter had trending topics related to the Boston Marathon, such as #bostonstrong and #bostongbombing.
One group of people even tried to solve the mystery on Reddit, by posting possible photographs of the bomber and discussing who it could be and why. Some of the tweets and posts even steered officials in the wrong direction, posting a picture of a person and claiming he was the bomber. With this in mind, it was questioned whether or not the influence of social media helped or hurt the situation as a whole. It certainly helped people all around the country who wanted to know what was going on, especially when reputable news sources subs as ABC News or Fox tweeted them from verified accounts. However, when someone without full insight posted a prediction or guess, word spread fast and people were inferring incorrect information.
The biggest issue of social media being a key provider of information is the abundance of false information circulating around the internet. One incorrect fact leads to another, and a whole group of people are falsely informed of what actually happened. However, the many positives of social media tend to outweigh the negatives. The ability to instantly refresh and discover what is happening, where, why, and to whom allows residents to be informed. Also, on portals such as Twitter and Facebook, direct contact can be made to news sources and they can respond to individuals’ questions. This instantaneous method of communication informs people quicker than television and print media. Even a small blurb, such as a 140-character tweet, can put people at ease about a situation.
Montgomery County, local news stations, and other verified sources all post emergency situations and other updates instantly on social media. This way, residents of MoCo can be constantly updated and instantly informed. Of course, you can always connect with the Innovation Program by following @MoCoDanHoffman!
Sources: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/04/23/social-media-boston-marathon-bombings/2106701/