Over the past twenty years, the Internet has dramatically changed the way people communicate and gain access to information but the majority of impact has been on individual interactions – a single person emailing or reading online news websites. Recent activity over the past few years have shown the additional power of the web to expand beyond individual interaction and foster communal activity without any of the traditional borders that previously hindered social interaction. The Internet doesn’t have geographical, economic, or political boundaries so people are able to access each other and communicate on a growing number of social platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. There are numerous other social networking sites but Twitter and Facebook are at the forefront of a new trend that leverages social networking in order to provide real-time data about current social activity. The term “Web 2.0” has become popular for describing this new trend that can be broadly defined as “Web as Platform”. Essentially, the increase of online social mediums has transformed the Web into platform for dynamic communication “where dissemination of information is timely and vast” (Huang et al., 2010). There are countless ways to apply the type of information available via Web 2.0 but the application of user updates to social networking websites as a real-time data source for news is one of the most compelling.
Is social media a more current news source?
Perhaps one of the best examples of how information from social networking sites can be sourced in order to provide information is the website Ushahidi which uses crowd sourcing technology to map social networking activity. Ushahidi, which means “testimony” in Swahili, was founded in Kenya in response to the social unrest following the 2008 presidential election. The mission of Ushahidi is to use the crowd sourcing data in order to provide live updates on events that have an impact on social issues ranging from natural disasters to political uprisings. The website’s unique ability to map reports of violence using data from social networking sites (submitted via the web and mobile phones) made it one of the most reliable news sources for tracking violence in Kenya. The site has since expanded into a sophisticated source for real-time information on social issues occurring around the world. In fact, the real time data mapping provided by Ushahidi is being used by humanitarian organizations conducting relief efforts because of the website’s ability to “flag up danger around the world within seconds, enabling the organization to offer help to people around the globe” (Akhtar, 2011). Humanitarian organizations are able to use Ushahidi to gather real-time data on people in need thanks to a mapping analysis of social media users’ updates to their accounts. In this regard, the news source has become the very people experiencing an event as opposed to more traditional news reporters who are sent to a location to report on an event.
A Closer Look at Social Networking for Disaster Relief
A case study by Huang et. al describes the application of internet social networking among large web-users during a major natural disaster in Taiwan and how “Web 2.0” was used to “establish an integrated internet-based emergency response system… [which] empowered the public to share experience and information during emergency and disaster response activities” (Huang et al., 2010). When the Morakot typhoon hit Taiwan, the night of August 8 2009 causing massive damage to Southern Taiwan, web users immediately began reporting the real-time situation on the forum PTT, one of the most popular internet social networks in Taiwan, and by the morning a sophisticated online relief network was established. “On August 9th, an unofficial Morakot Online Disaster Report Center was established by a group of internet users from the Association of Digital Culture Taiwan They advised fellow Internet users living near areas battered by the storms to gather information, such as sustained damage or assistance needed on popular social networking websites, including Twitter… Twitter users also sent messages to help rescuers acquire accurate position for their family and friends who live in affected areas” (Huang et. al, 2010). In contrast to the disaster response through social networking sites, the official response operations were not coordinated efficiently. “During the most crucial first few hours after the catastrophe, the Central Response Center underestimated the early scope and gravity of the disaster due to the lack of information and communication from affected areas. Official government communication early in the crisis failed, causing people to turn to [the Web]” (Huang et al., 2010).
Ushahidi and the Morakot typhoon response are just two examples of how “Web 2.0” is becoming an increasingly trustworthy news source. Social networking platforms have the unique ability to provide real-time data from people experiencing a newsworthy event. Social networking sites can provide a vital two-way information channel that can help those in need get assistance and provide the rest of the world with real-time personal accounts of what is happening on the ground.
--Phil
Resources:
1) Akhtar, Tanzeel “The Charitable Face of Data Use” Accessed on December 9, 2011 via: http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/disciplines/data-strategy/the-charitable-face-of-data-use/3032554.article
2) Huang, Cheng-Min, Edward Chan and Adnan A Hyder “Web 2.0 and Internet Social Networking: A new tool for Disaster Management? – Lessons from Taiwan” BMC Medial Informatics and Decision Making 2010, 10:57.
6 comments:
The Internet doesn’t have geographical, economic, or political boundaries so people are able to access each other and communicate on a growing number of social platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. Social Network Analysis
I just completed a course in Writing for Electronic Environments, and this was an issue we debated. I am re-posting this to my process blog! Great work!
Truly a to the thinking post. Social networking sites has really brought change in the modes of communication. As an author and a businessman, one thing I know is that it is very important to be in contact with your prospects in order to keep oneself up to dated. Any incident can not only be shared quickly but also gives its speedy conclusion as well.
Social networks, especially Twitter, are much faster at disseminating information than the traditional news organizations, that much is not in doubt. However, with that speed, comes more opportunity to get the facts wrong, with little to no accountability.
The question then is this; do we sacrifice speed for accuracy, or do we continue to depend on monolithic organizations which may have their own agenda when reporting the news? It's quite the double edged sword!
It is an interesting perspective to consider social networks as "news sources". Yes, they can provide real time eye witness accounts. Traditional media frequently utilize social media sources as well. However, there is something unifying in obtaining news of the day via national television and radio broadcasts which cannot be replicated via social networks.
We are fortunate to have numerous vehicles informing and reporting happenings around the world. However, we must weigh in our own minds the truthfulness and accuracy of information from whichever source it is obtained.
The internet makes it easier for someone to catch up on current events and post it on social media if they feel it's important enough to post. Watching the nightly news takes time whereas posting catching up on Twitter and Facebook is instantaneous.
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