Impact of Social Media in Dissemination of Information during a Disaster- a Case Study on Kerala Floods 2018
Aswathi Suresh Babu1, Dinesh Babu S2, Harikrishnan D3
1Aswathi Suresh Babu, M. Phil, Research Scholar, Department of Visual Media & Communication, Amrita School of Arts & Sciences, Kochi, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, India.
2Dinesh Babu S, Assistant Professor, Department of Visual Media & Communication, Amrita School of Arts & Sciences, Kochi, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, India.
3Harikrishnan D, Assistant Professor, Department of Visual Media & Communication, Amrita School of Arts & Sciences, Kochi, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, India.
Manuscript received on 15 May 2019 | Revised Manuscript received on 22 May 2019 | Manuscript Published on 02 June 2019 | PP: 283-286 | Volume-8 Issue-7S2 May 2019 | Retrieval Number: G10490587S219/19©BEIESP
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open-access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: Over the last two decades, social media has been evolved into a powerful tool for communication. Recent Kerala floods could prove the potential of social media as a significant and accessible tool to get information across quickly to reach out to a large group of people. This research intends to study the far reaching impact of social media in dissemination of information during a disaster. It investigates the use of social media platforms by different stakeholders involved in emergency response activities during 2018 Kerala floods. According to the results social media is helpful in organizing and facilitating the rescue and relief actions. With its immediate and amplified reach, social media make sure that vital information reaches to right people at the right time. The strategic use of social media can effectively drive disaster management efforts.
Keywords: Social Media, New Media, Disaster Management, Kerala Floods, Social Change.
Scope of the Article: Communication