Xialing Lin

Variability in Twitter content across the stages of a natural disaster: Implications for crisis communication

Little is known about the ways in which social media, such as Twitter, function as conduits for information related to crises and emergencies. The current study analyzed the content of over 1,500 Tweets that were sent in the days leading up to the landfall of Hurricane Sandy. Time-series analyses reveal that relevant information became less prevalent as the crisis moved from the prodromal to acute phase, and information concerning specific remedial behaviors was absent. Implications for government agencies and emergency responders are discussed.

Expressions of risk awareness and concern through Twitter: On the utility of using the medium as an indication of audience needs

Abstract Twitter is increasingly gaining momentum as a trusted source for news and information. A significant body of research suggests that during crises and emergencies, people rely on the medium for timely updates and real time information. Simultaneously, Twitter content may be a useful tool for identifying specific audience needs and concerns. The current study quantitatively analyzed tweets related to Hurricane Sandy in the days leading up to landfall. Areas examined include expressions of risk awareness and concern, and the ways in which these statements differ across age, sex, ethnicity, and language group. The findings are discussed in terms of the ways in which emergency managers may be able to use the systematic analysis of Twitter content in identifying audience needs.

Social media and crisis management

The current manuscript explores Twitter use and content in the precrisis stages of a major weather event in the northeast. A multi-level content analysis of tweets collected in the lead up to landfall suggests that emergency management agencies largely underutilized the medium, and that actionable information was easier to find when searching along localized hashtags. The findings are discussed in terms of the Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) model of crisis management and implications for emergency management agencies. We examined a large number of tweets in the days leading up to a major snowstorm.Twitter content dealt more with affective orientation than actionable information.Actionable information was easier to find using localized hashtags.Emergency management agencies were largely absent from the conversation.

Full length articleSocial media and crisis management: CERC, search strategies, and Twitter content

The current manuscript explores Twitter use and content in the precrisis stages of a major weather event in the northeast. A multi-level content analysis of tweets collected in the lead up to landfall suggests that emergency management agencies largely underutilized the medium, and that actionable information was easier to find when searching along localized hashtags. The findings are discussed in terms of the Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) model of crisis management and implications for emergency management agencies. We examined a large number of tweets in the days leading up to a major snowstorm.Twitter content dealt more with affective orientation than actionable information.Actionable information was easier to find using localized hashtags.Emergency management agencies were largely absent from the conversation.

Screaming into the Wind: Examining the Volume and Content of Tweets Associated with Hurricane Sandy

Social media have gained increased use as sources of information, including information related to risks and crises. The current study explores Twitter use in the days leading up to the landfall of Hurricane Sandy in October, 2012. It provides an overview of the type of content tweeted, along with an assessment of the utility of this content in mitigating similar emergencies in the future. Tweets were collected at multiple time points. Tweet rate increased during the storm, and specific keywords were not used extensively. Government and organizational responses were largely absent. Finally, Twitter was used more for emotional release than to provide information.

Intercultural differences in responses to health messages on social media from spokespeople with varying levels of ethnic identity

In this study respondents were exposed to a social media page with either an African American avatar communicating high ethnic identity or low ethnic identity, encouraging them to read a story on the dangers of heart disease. Respondents were then asked to rate perceived response efficacy and behavioral intentions. Caucasians and African Americans did not differ on response efficacy across conditions; however African Americans in the high ethnic identity group indicated a change in behavioral intentions whereas other respondents did not. The results are discussed in relation to healthcare information targeting, future healthcare campaigns and emergent technologies.

Twitter Use During a Weather Event: Comparing Content Associated with Localized and Nonlocalized Hashtags

Social media are becoming relied upon for information concerning large-scale weather events, crises, and other occurrences that pose potential risks. Little is known about the effectiveness of social media strategies in delivering information effectively to at-risk audiences, or the ease with which audiences can locate information. A content analysis examined a sample of 800 tweets retrieved using localized and national hashtags in the early stage of a major winter storm. Results are consistent with past research suggesting that Twitter may be used more for affective display than for information seeking. It also extends previous research by offering that actionable information appears to be more common with localized hashtags. Results are discussed in terms of implications for future research and practical applications.

Social media and credibility indicators: The effect of influence cues

Guided by the MAIN model, this study examines how individuals evaluate the source credibility of tweets and retweets based on non-content attributes. Three types of heuristics were examined, including authority, identity, and bandwagon cues. Findings suggest that all three heuristics impacted source credibility perceptions to some extent. Authority cues most strongly influenced source credibility perceptions, and cue-cumulative effects were demonstrated in which different heuristics triggered by different agency cues increased perceptions of credibility. Moreover, the presence of retweets reduced perceptions of source credibility compared to conditions with no retweets.

Exploring extreme events on social media

Although recent research suggests that Twitter and other forms of micro-blogging are becoming increasingly relied upon by both the public and response agencies dealing with crises and disasters, little is known about how these dynamics may play out in a non-Western context. The current study examines the use of the Chinese Weibo service during a 2013 smog emergency, and compares user generated content to that found in earlier data concerning a weather event in North America. The results indicate that by way of comparison, the Weibo sample contained proportionately similar degrees of informative and affective content, but that users were less likely to use humor and showed no increase in affective outpouring as the crisis developed. Results are discussed in terms of implications for those designing social media campaigns for informing and motivating those affected by large-scale weather-related crises. A cross-cultural comparison of Twitter retweets and Weibo reposts for a crisis event was conducted.Differences emerged in type and rate of retweet/repost.Differences in informative and emotional content were found.Application of the results are discussed.

Exploring the impact of ethnic identity through other-generated cues on perceptions of spokesperson credibility

Although previous studies indicate that perceived similarity can influence perceptions of source credibility, less is known about the impact of ethnic identity on these perceptions in social media environments. A quasi-experiment was designed to manipulate the strength of ethnic identity of an African American spokesperson promoting a health news story. The results indicate a substantive condition by participant ethnicity interaction, in which African Americans assign greater credibility to high ethnic identity spokespeople, while Caucasian respondents found low ethnic identity spokespersons more credible. The results are discussed in terms of the understanding of credibility perceptions across diverse audiences, and the implications for health communication professionals working with historically underrepresented populations.