Title
Communicating on Twitter during a disaster: An analysis of tweets during Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines
Date Issued
01 September 2015
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Michigan State University
Publisher(s)
Elsevier Ltd
Abstract
Social media in crisis situations, such as natural disasters, have been recognized by scholars and practitioners as key communication channels that can complement traditional channels. However, there is limited empirical examination from the user perspective of the functions that social media play and the factors that explain such uses. In this study we examine Twitter use during and after Typhoon Haiyan pummeled the Philippines. We tested a typology of Twitter use based on previous research, and explored external factors - time of use and geographic location - and internal factors - type of stakeholders (e.g. ordinary citizens, journalists, etc.) and social media engagement - to predict these uses. The results showed that different stakeholders used social media mostly for dissemination of second-hand information, in coordinating relief efforts, and in memorializing those affected. Recommendations for future research and applications in future crises are also presented.
Start page
392
End page
398
Volume
50
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Medios de comunicación, Comunicación socio-cultural
Periodismo
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-84928399762
Source
Computers in Human Behavior
ISSN of the container
07475632
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus