“When disasters happen, people need to know their loved ones are safe… It’s moments like this that being able to connect matters.” This quote by Mark Zuckerberg, CEO Facebook highlights the benefits of social media in emergency management.
The above quote shows we live in a world of increasing interconnectedness between people and companies across the globe. Social media continues to develop and play a more significant role in our daily lives.
Social media has developed from being a place to look at photos of what your friend had for lunch or his new puppy. To a place where most people get their daily news.
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Today one of the first things most people do every morning is to check Facebook, Twitter or another social media platform on their smartphones to see what’s trending.
Thus, when a crisis, such as a natural disaster or pandemic, affects public health; then social media, most notably Twitter and Facebook, will always come into play.
Social media has given rise to what we can call citizen or social journalism. News stories of natural disasters and other emergencies can break instantly on one of the popular social media platforms. This is not peculiar to Nigeria alone but worldwide. Citizens go on their favourite social network to share breaking news which then spreads far across the globe.
“When disasters happen, people need to know their loved ones are safe… It’s moments like this that being able to connect matters.” - Mark Zuckerberg Click To TweetHow Social Media Affects Emergency Management?
Using social media during an emergency helps with information dissemination. It allows us to communicate quickly and efficiently. Social media provides citizens with important real-time updates about emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic happening around the world and other issues that can trickle down to affect them. Social media also creates opportunities for collaboration among different stakeholders involved in emergency response.
Social media is an important tool for emergency management. It allows us to communicate with our community and share information quickly and efficiently. However, social media also poses risks to emergency managers. For example, if you post something on Facebook or Twitter that could be misinterpreted, it could lead to unnecessary panic.
The best way to avoid this is to only post information that you know is true and will not cause harm. If you decide to share information online, it’s important to remember that people may take what you say out of context. It’s also worth remembering that your comments on a social media channel may offend some people. So as a business owner and social media user you need to be careful what you post because it may affect your brand in the future.
That’s why I often advise clients to have a social media strategy or policy that covers a wide variety of situations you or your team may encounter when using your social media account. You need to see this as preparedness planning in case of an emergency.
Benefits of Social Media for Emergency Management
When disaster strikes, most people turn to social media networks to get news. They get necessary updates from persons at the centre of the event.
This article notes that After Haiti’s 2010 earthquake, social media was used to link healthcare providers requiring supplies to those who had them. In Haiti and the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami, trapped victims could use social media services via their mobile phones to summon help and communicate with responders.
Using social media in disaster risk reduction and disaster management situations has made many disaster response, disaster management and relief organisations focus on boosting their social media activities. They alert the public of efforts they’re preparing to give relief.
The American Red Cross’ ” Social Media in Disasters and Emergencies ” survey of 1,058 adults shows that 18% would turn to digital social media if calls to 911 were unsuccessful.
Even after disaster strikes, social media is still used to help others find their loved ones.
Also, the number of people using social media has increased from 5% in 2005 to 69% in 2016, according tothe Pew Research Center. Source: https://www.onsolve.com/blog/emergency-management-trends-2018/
69% of the adults surveyed said emergency response agencies should regularly monitor their Web sites and social media networks. It is so they can respond promptly to requests for help posted there; 74% said they would expect help to arrive within an hour.
Before, during and after disaster strikes, businesses across the globe use their company’s social media pages to tell their shareholders, customers, and different stakeholders of their standing.
Some brands also use their web presence to update the public on their action plan to rebuild, move or reopen for business continuity.
Even in Nigeria, the federal government, local government and government agency use social media to communicate with the public during such emergency situations.
Your business can use social media to its advantage by tracking specific hashtags and keywords.
Where cell services are not available, your business can still make social media a part of its communication with the public.
Through social media monitoring, relevant organisations can gather information from followers in the form of real-time pictures and videos. Information about relief activities in progress, whether it be after a fire, flood or hurricane.
The most common type of social media monitoring software is called ‘social listening’. This social media tool allows you to search through all the posts on a particular platform, such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc., and listen out for keywords or phrases that may indicate a problem. During an emergency event, the emergency management agency or other emergency responders can adopt it in crisis management or any other emergency management situation.
When disaster strikes, most people turn to social media networks to get news. Click To TweetDisadvantages of Social Media in Emergency Management
Despite the many benefits of social media in emergency management, we also realise that there are also disadvantages of social media. Such as when the information is incorrect or malicious, in which case it hinders response efforts.
With the rapid rate at which tweets and posts come in, your business should use social media with caution so as not to spread wrong information.
Anyone can report anything on social media. It means that we do not verify a lot of the information’ from official sources.
For example, studies show that outdated, inaccurate information has been disseminated via social media forums during disasters.
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So you need to exercise caution before you re-post or retweet any information from unverified sources.
Be selective about the sources from which you receive your information. Scammers can use social media to ask funds from you. They will attempt to steal your bank details.
The use of social media in emergency management situations has made many disaster relief organisations focus on boosting their social media activities. Click To TweetMake sure you research and verify the legitimacy of any organisation before you give money to any organisation.
A wise business owner needs to integrate social media with its traditional communications channels. The two platforms are mutually supportive in communicating with the public.
Conclusion
Have you been in a situation when you had to rely on social media? Share your experience.
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