View source for Using Social Media in Emergencies: Smart Practices

{{Guideline
|Publishing Organisation=Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
|Language=English
|Year Published=2012
|Target Audience=Policy Makers, Practitioners
|Status=Published
|Covers Thematic=Community management, Crisis communication, Social Media Strategy
|Audience Experience Level=Starter
|Source Website=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/85946/Using-social-media-in-emergencies-smart-tips.pdf
|Synopsis='''Benefits of social media for Government'''
* Increase access to audiences
* Improve engagement with citizens, partners and stakeholders 
* Increase the speed of public feedback and input
* Reach specific audiences on specific issues
* Reduce dependence on traditional media channels
* Counter inaccurate press coverage


'''Prepare'''

* Management
** There are a number of management issues to consider when using social media in emergencies. These include how the capability will be resourced during an emergency, and the logistics of this. 
** Good practices include:
*** Devising a rota system for staff who are ‘online’ 24/7 to monitor and respond to social media updates
*** Organise access to social media during the emergency (perhaps mobile access) and ensure relevant staff members have been trained, and have access to the sites.
*** Ensure plans are flexible and able to deal with a variety of emergencies, and maintain flexibility.

* Method
''The content of messages is critical'' 

* Areas to consider include:
** Using hashtags to allow information to be easily found.
** Consider how you will approach ‘accuracy ‘ issues . 
*** The public actively seek out information during emergencies and posting ‘something’ is preferable to posting nothing until all the facts are known.



'''RESPOND: Using social media during an emergency'''

* During an emergency social media can be employed in a variety of ways to assist efforts to RESPOND to a ongoing incident.
* Social media can be used as a systematic emergency management tool. It can be used by emergency management communicators to help: 
** Communicate and engage with the public/affected individuals.
** Establish situation awareness. Upload images to verify or refute rumours. 
** Gather damage estimates.

* Use of tools during emergencies
** Several tools have been constructed that should greatly improve the integration of social media into emergency response.
** Tools  will:
*** Reduce resource (time and personnel) requirements with regards to monitoring, searching and engaging with social media.
***  Reduce burden on social media staff due to improved ability to filter key information
*** Help to triangulate and co-ordinate campaigns across social media.





'''RECOVER: Using social media after an emergency'''

''Social media can assist the key areas of recovery in the following ways:''
* Environmental: 
** Social media can help co- ordinate clean-up efforts, recruit volunteers, and inform the public about waste collection efforts. 
* Humanitarian : 
** Social media can help communicate health care facility information and locations of health centres. 
* Economic: 
** Social media can be used to help disseminate information regarding businesses and encourage economic recovery. 
* Infrastructure: 
** Social media can be used to communicate recovery of infrastructure, to identify areas that are in most need of recovery. Site clearance can also be co-ordinated.
|Is Archived=No
|Data Sources=Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr
|Technologies=Tweetdeck
|Disaster Management Phase=Before, During, After
|Primary Target Group=Practitioners, Policy Makers
|Covers Usage Of=Social Media
|Covers Disaster Community Technologies=No
}}
This guide is a short compilation of practical tips on how to use social media using examples of the core social media tools: Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Flickr. It also describes the activities before, during and after a crisis.