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  • Social Media Use In Crisis

Social media use in crisis and beyond

students on electronics

Why is social media important during a crisis?

  • Crisis Communication: Using social media allows for a rapid response to the broadest possible audience, without filtering by a third party.
  • Media Consumption: Over the past several years, there has been a major shift from print news to online and digital news. Put your message in front of your audience members by meeting them where they congregate.
  • Social Power: Traditional methods of broadcasting news (school newsletters, press releases, etc.) assume a passive target audience. But with the use of online tools, everyone has a voice.

Three key ways to use social media during and after a crisis

  • Monitor buzz
    Pay attention to the conversation(s) going on about the crisis, and help direct the buzz.
  • Engage with community
    Aim for dialogue: pose a message, listen to the response, and reply appropriately.
  • Turn community members into broadcasters
    Ask community members to help multiply your reach by sharing the news with their friends and groups. 

Related content

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  • Chemical and biological threats
  • Crisis resources
  • Wildfire Resources

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