Social Networking Sites in the Aftermath of a Crisis - the Enabling Role for Self-organization

Abstract

During crisis circumstances, people increasingly rely on social networking sites (SNS). SNS offer new ways for people to participate and communicate, including seeking local and timely information and activating their social networks quickly, which in turn supports self-organization during crisis events. However, little is known about the motives that influence people's different SNS usage behavior for the goal of selforganization and the underlying mechanisms of this behavior. Based on uses and gratifications theory and the literature on crisis communication and crisis informatics, this conceptual paper argues that during crisis circumstances, particular needs influence people's SNS usage for the goal of self-organization. In addition, the paper investigates the conceptual underpinnings of self-organization via SNS. This paper, therefore, contributes to theory by developing a conceptual model for the analysis of self-organization via SNS during crisis circumstances.

Virality and the Virus: Drugs and Cures on Twitter During the COVID-19 Crisis in India

“…The "cures" studied here were largely debunked or not recommended by the international healthcare community, yet these institutional sources failed to provide clear answers, since the crisis was an evolving one, in turn laying the grounds for an information crisis [9]. What we see here is a unique intersection of influencer culture layered over an environment in which institutional knowledge was already being questioned.…”

“…Fischer notes that communication practices during crises are highlighted by people's needs to eliminate risks and reduce uncertainty [9]. Social media sites, in particular, offer a means to move away from the discomfort of the unknown, through the crowd-sourcing of known information, that leads to the emergence of mutual-aid or topical groups.…”

Early crisis warning system using community engagement through social network sites in times of disaster

“…Hence, individuals more often tend to find that the distributed content is more accurate and well-timed, which leads to more reliance on SNS for information pursuing, sharing, and commenting in the outcomes of a crisis. In addition, past research has emphasized the importance of relational networks for information transmission during crisis events (Ellison et al, 2018). Also, Jonas, Greenberg, and Frey (2003) proved that most people during terror attacks are provided with information from their personal networks; all this indicates that information flow in times of disasters cannot only come from the governments, people and community have their own channels to exchange information, in which the social network sites have a very major role.…”

“…This information which is provided by ordinary people on SNS is very useful, timely and relevant during highly forceful and uncertain crises situations. This is how many authors adapted this information to be trustworthy in times of crisis and it can be a basis for decision makers as well not only to inform people affected by the crisis (Li et al, 2015;Olteanu et al, 2015;Saleh-Omoush, 2017;Ellison et al, 2018). Hence, individuals more often tend to find that the distributed content is more accurate and well-timed, which leads to more reliance on SNS for information pursuing, sharing, and commenting in the outcomes of a crisis.…”