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Here’s how Twitter usage patterns change during disasters

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A study by the University of Vermont finds that during natural disasters average Twitter users become more active disseminators of information.

The findings published in the journal PLOS ONE, on February 13, reveal that Twitter users with small networks (100-200 followers) increase activity more than those with larger networks in these situations.

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Lead author Meredith Niles of UVM’s Gund Institute for Environment and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences says,’We show that social media use differs markedly depending on emergency type, and these insights can help with emergency planning, where effective communications can be a matter of life and death.’

 

‘We found ‘average Twitter users’ tweeted more frequently about disasters, and focused on communicating key information,’ says study co-author Benjamin Emery, a Master student in UVM’s Complex Systems Center and Computational Story Lab. Emery further added ‘’While these users have fewer followers than so-called influencers, their followers tend to have a higher proportion of friends and family, close networks that are more likely to seek and exchange useful information in emergency situations.’

Researchers found key differences in tweet timing and volume, depending on disaster type. For hurricanes, people tweeted more frequently about emergency topics before the event, while for tornadoes and floods, which occur with less warning, Twitter was used for real-time or recovery information.

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The results have important implications for government agencies and organizations responsible for emergency preparations. The study suggests that the importance of Twitter for communicating potentially life-saving information could be maximized by tailoring the timing and content of messages to the emergency type.

The research was conducted under a standing agreement between the University of Vermont and Twitter that allows the university access to the Decahose (a random stream of 10 percent of all public tweets made).

 

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