DisastersIs social media responsible for your safety during a disaster?
Given the popularity of Facebook and Twitter, it is not surprising so many people use social media in crises such as floods, fires, and earthquakes. While social media can be a handy resource in crises, people must be careful not to take their access for granted during emergencies. Floods, fires, and earthquakes often disrupt the power and communications infrastructures that smartphones rely upon, as our access is constrained by the limitations of copper, fiber, hybrid, and cellular Internet technologies, and their vulnerability to the elements. Also, some questions about the features of tools such as Facebook’s Safety Check are yet to be answered persuasively. Still, such concerns notwithstanding, it is encouraging to see an organization such as Facebook taking responsibility for its users and entering the crisis communication space. A tool that helps family and friends during a crisis, and facilitates easy communication is a welcome development.
Given the popularity of Facebook and Twitter, it’s not surprising so many people use social media in crises such as floods, fires, and earthquakes.
Facebook has introduced Safety Check, a new tool for users in disaster-affected areas to notify their network of “friends” of their safety and check on their family and friends.
Facebook will send a notification to users who may be affected by a disaster, based on the location in their profile and geolocation data collected by apps.
People can then confirm they are safe or report that they are outside of the affected area. When a user confirms they are safe, Facebook will post this on their timeline and notify their friends.
This service from Facebook follows similar moves by other internet companies to become more proactive in crisis communications.
Twitter Alerts allows pre-approved law enforcement, emergency management, and government agencies, as well as selected NGOs to send important messages to their followers via push notifications and text messages.
Google has also developed tools to streamline official communication from emergency responders to the public during disasters.
Social media in disasters
Sites such as Facebook and Twitter have become key sources that people turn to for help and information in natural disasters. Our experience in recent disasters, including the 2010-11 Queensland floods and 2013 Tasmanian bushfires, is proof of this.
Emergency management organizations often stress the importance of emergency preparedness for people who live in places that are prone to natural disasters.
But while social media can be a handy resource in crises, people must be careful not to take their access for granted during emergencies. Floods, fires, and earthquakes often disrupt the power and communications infrastructures that smartphones rely upon.
Granted, Internet companies such as Facebook and Google are keenly aware of this problem and are working to provide internet access remotely through arrays of unmanned drones, stratospheric balloons and satellites.
But for the time being, our access is constrained by the limitations of copper, fiber, hybrid, and cellular internet technologies, and their vulnerability to the elements.
New media, new concerns
In a crisis, it is critically important that governments are able to communicate information to citizens that is both accurate and up to date.
With traditional systems, such as radio and television, this is a relatively simple process — emergency management organizations cooperate with media producers to ensure that the information broadcast is current and correct.
