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Social Networking Websites Effective Tools of Communications in Emergencies
A recent study conducted by the University of Colorado has indicated that social networking and other web based systems are more useful than traditional media in disseminating information about emergency situations. Researchers looked at the way these technologies were used during last year’s California wildfires and Virginia Tech shootings.
The researchers found that non-traditional social media was more quickly updated (detailed reports of the Virginia Tech shootings went up on Wikipedia within 90 minutes). Moreover, the capabilities of these alternate media venues can be more effective than traditional media. For example, Google Maps was used during the wildfires to monitor the fire and users were able to mark business closures while government authorities found maintaining up-to-date information difficult. This is likely due to the fact that traditional media simply did not have the ability to put reporters on the front lines, whereas Internet users effectively became reporters with the new technologies being used. Authorities such as the American Red Cross and U.S. Geological Survey are starting to take advantage of this new way to monitor disasters, a trend which is likely to continue.
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