blog




  • Essay / Benefits of Social Media Crisis Communication

    Table of ContentsResearch QuestionsFindingsConclusionThe following article, by Bowen Zheng, is a theory-based model that focuses on consumers' secondary crisis communication via social media. Expanding the existing understanding of secondary literature on crisis communication from a social control perspective, it examined the context of social diffusion on social media by considering the effect of opinion-based context. Aiming to reveal how the public engages in the decision-making process related to secondary crisis communication (SCC) from the perspective of social control, a survey was conducted after a real crisis in China. Results indicated that cognitive reputation led to SCC by causing public moral distress, which leads individuals to be more likely to engage in SCC given the perception of support for their opinions on social media. Therefore, the study reveals that those who feel a sense of reinforcement on social media will be more likely to share their opinions on social media, especially in a crisis.Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The study led by Sofia Brantu explores the function of social media technologies that act as an agency in the service of crisis communication, and the importance of social media in emergency management. By implementing the use of data collection, Brantu analyzes the self-provisioning of information by individuals which provides access to a wider range of information, but which poses difficult tasks for official regulation and information synchronization. The recognition of social media and its function in many events around the world has generated new concerns related to crisis communication approaches, while the function of conventional leadership favored by government bodies and mainstream media is modified to the within social media. But at the same time, social media acts as a gateway to mass connections and communications, making it a vital tactic in times of crisis that attracts the attention of a large audience. While social media can be manipulated to become a governmental issue through fragmentation, Brantu concludes that social media can be used as a tool to send messages to large numbers of people when needed, thus giving social media an effect more neutral on certain crises in a more specific context. Hui Zhao's experience focuses on authoritarian action and, more specifically, how the Chinese government generated authority in times of crisis through social media. Using the authority theoretical framework and genre analysis method, this study examined the top 100 most forwarded messages on Weibo regarding a high-profile murder to determine the mechanisms involved in the generation of authority. Research confirms that building and maintaining authority distinguishes governments from other social actors during crisis communication. Gender analysis demonstrates that by using databases and analysis of public records, power and control are granted to the government in times of crisis. Zhao concluded by stating that the study suggests the performance and social construction approach to understanding the authority of governments in the digital age on two levels: a situation-based concept that goes beyond the context of fixed institutions , and a relationship-based concept that is promoted bydiffusion, collaboration and other variables. The final study, by Lucinda Austin, focuses on how the public obtains information through social media and the factors that affect them during a crisis. Using the social media crisis communication model and examining crisis information through interviews and surveys with 184 students, it was revealed that people use social media during a crisis primarily to obtain privileged information on the procedures to follow, as well as how to register. family and friends. The most popular form of crisis in college is that students have taken to social media to witness some sort of riot, whether it's a major sporting event or the H1N1 flu outbreak. The most important aspect of using social media during a crisis is convenience, as crucial information is delivered in real time at the touch of a button. However, one problem that people tend to encounter when using social media is the credibility, or lack of credibility, of certain sources which can manipulate people into believing what is not actually true. Austin concludes that the information provided by the study put a unique spin on social media by examining how certain audiences use social media to gather information, as opposed to just how it is provided to the public.Research QuestionsAfter Having reviewed case studies on social media and crisis communication, much information can be gathered to better understand the correlation between the platform and the management of a crisis. However, there are still unanswered questions. The first question that arises throughout the articles is: Even with the rapid rise of media platforms, can organizations really start relying solely on social media to resolve a crisis, or the negative elements l do they outweigh the positives with this resource? The case studies provided mixed results, although when it came specifically to finding information about a crisis, social media was generally positive. The second question addresses a broader, but perhaps even more important aspect: how has social media affected people around the world during the crisis related to the rise of social media over the last 10 years? By better understanding this issue, people will not only have a better understanding of which media platforms to turn to in a crisis, but they will also have an idea of ​​which sources are reliable and trustworthy. ResultsBased on literature analysis and information that they provide, there are sufficient results from the various studies, surveys and interviews to provide sufficient answers to the research questions. The articles by Thompson, Liu, Zheng, and Austin help answer the first research question. Based on their studies on the effects of social media on people and how they articulate a message, it can be concluded that social media does in fact provide positive support in the face of a crisis or epidemic. Positive aspects include instant communication with potentially millions of people needing information and close contact with family and friends who need to be contacted at all times. It is, however, important for an organization to phrase the message in a way that it cannot be easily misunderstood, as a social media post is not a form of direct communication, meaning it can be interpreted in different ways,?