Which of the following statements is true about social media use in an emergency

Q: What is an advantage of using social media during emergency communication FEMA?

In fact, during a crisis event, social medias greatest value may be in allowing emergency response managers to learn about what is happening during an event in real time through social media listening.

Q: What is a key benefit of using social media during times of disaster?

Broadcasting critical information: Social medias communication platforms can provide announcements to help with preparation for impending events and provide warning, response, recovery and educational updates.

SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS

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SOCIAL MEDIA BEFORE, DURING, & AFTER EMERGENCIES
How can social media be used in an emergency response?
What is an advantage of using social media during emergency communication FEMA?
What is a key benefit of using social media during times of disaster?
What opportunities to achieve the benefits of social media involves doing the right thing getting the right message to the right audience?

This section provides an overview of social media platforms classified by purpose and function. 27

A. Social Networking
1. Definition: Using websites and applications to communicate informally with others, find people, and share similar interests

Allows users to directly connect with one another through groups, networks, and location

2. Examples: Facebook and LinkedIn

B. Microblogging
1. Definition: Posting of very short entries or updates on a social networking site

Allows users to subscribe to other users' content, send direct messages, and reply publicly
Allows users to create and share hashtags to share content about related subjects

2. Examples: Twitter and Tumblr

3. Additional tool for managing microblogging: TweetDeck

Tweetdeck downloadable desktop application made exclusively for Twitter, allows for the organization of tweets through "customizable columns, multiple accounts toggling, scheduling, and automatically refreshing feeds".28 TweetDeck relies on column-based interface that allows all social media profiles to be viewed in one window. This beginner's guide to TweetDeck detials how to set-up and customize TweetDeck features to your agency's needs.

C. Blogging (Using Publishing Websites)
1. Definition: Recording opinions, stories, articles, and links to other websites on a personal website2. Examples: Wordpress and Blogger

D. Photo Sharing
1. Definition: Publishing a user's digital photos, enabling the user to share photos with others either publicly or privately

2: Examples: Instagram, Flickr, Snapchat and Pinterest

E. Video Sharing
1. Definition: Publishing a user's digital photos, enabling the user to share photos with others either publicly or privately

Allows users to embed media in a blog or Facebook post, or link media to a tweet

2. Examples: YouTube, Vimeo, and Periscope

F. Crowdsourcing
1. Definition: Obtaining needed services, ideas, or content by soliciting contributions from a large group of people, particularly those from the online community

2. Examples: Ushahidi, Inc.

For more information on crowdsourcing, view the Digital Humanitarians TED Talk on the use of time-critical crowdsourcing to verify social media for disaster response. 29 To view the FEMA mobile application called "Disaster Reporter," which includes a crowdsourcing component, click here.30

G. Tools for Managing Multiple Social Media Platforms
1. Definition: An aggregator is a tool tht can be used to "aggregate social media site feeds in one spot, allowing users to search by keywords."31

2. Examples: Hootsuite

HootSuite supports social network integrations for Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, WordPress, and more. It has a browser-based interface that allows social media profiles to be viewed in tabs, rather than all in one window. It has the ability to filter messages, schedule posts, and manage messages through multiple platforms, as well as provide custom analytics.32

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References:

27 FEMA, IS-42: Social Media in Emergency Management, Lesson 2.

28 Cetin, M. (2013, November 7). The Beginner's Guide to TweetDeck. Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2013/11/07/tweetdeck-beginners-guide/#oGx_HnMmRuq1

29 Meier, P. (2013, July 21). TEDx: Using Crowdsourcing to Verify Social Media for Disaster Response | iRevolution. Retrieved from http://irevolution.net/2013/07/21/tedx-crowdsourcing-verification/?goback=.gde_106846_member_259920926

30 Kuriakose, D. (2013, July 29). FEMA App Adds Crowdsourcing for Disaster Relief. Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2013/07/29/fema-app-disaster-relief/

31 FEMA. (2013, June 18). IS-42: Social Media in Emergency Management, Lesson 2: Monitoring and Aggregating Sites. Retrieved from https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-42

32 HootSuite Website. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://hootsuite.com/features/social-networks

Social media has made it possible to make smart decisions and spread information instantaneously, something that can ultimately help save lives. The use of social media to aid emergency management includes steps to broadcast important safety information, correct misinformation and build situational awareness.

In fact, during a crisis event, social media's greatest value may be in allowing emergency response managers to learn about what is happening during an event in real time through social media listening.

Broadcasting critical information: Social media's communication platforms can provide announcements to help with preparation for impending events and provide warning, response, recovery and educational updates.

Relevance: Doing the right thing; getting the right message to the right audience; focusing on influencers and interested followers in a position to act (such as public vs. media, partners, etc.)