Social Media Use in Emergency Response to Natural Disasters: A Systematic Review With a Public Health Perspective

Authors

Kamalich Muniz-Rodriguez, Georgia Southern University, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public HealthFollow
Sylvia K. Ofori, Georgia Southern University, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public HealthFollow
Lauren C. Bayliss, Georgia Southern UniversityFollow
Jessica S. Schwind, Georgia Southern University, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public HealthFollow
Kadiatou Diallo, Georgia Southern University, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public HealthFollow
Manyun Liu, Georgia Southern University, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public HealthFollow
Jingjing Yin, Georgia Southern University, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public HealthFollow
Gerardo Chowell, Georgia State UniversityFollow
Isaac Fung, Georgia Southern UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-9-2020

Publication Title

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness

DOI

10.1017/dmp.2020.3

ISSN

1938-744X

Abstract

Social media research during natural disasters has been presented as a tool to guide response and relief efforts in the disciplines of geography and computer sciences. This systematic review highlights the public health implications of social media use in the response phase of the emergency, assessing (1) how social media can improve the dissemination of emergency warning and response information during and after a natural disaster, and (2) how social media can help identify physical, medical, functional, and emotional needs after a natural disaster. We surveyed the literature using 3 databases and included 44 research articles. We found that analyses of social media data were performed using a wide range of spatiotemporal scales. Social media platforms were identified as broadcasting tools presenting an opportunity for public health agencies to share emergency warnings. Social media was used as a tool to identify areas in need of relief operations or medical assistance by using self-reported location, with map development as a common method to visualize data. In retrospective analyses, social media analysis showed promise as an opportunity to reduce the time of response and to identify the individuals’ location. Further research for misinformation and rumor control using social media is needed.

Comments

Copyright and Open Access: http://sherpa.ac.uk/romeo/issn/1935-7893/

Recommended Citation

Muniz-Rodriguez, Kamalich, Sylvia K. Ofori, Lauren C. Bayliss, Jessica S. Schwind, Kadiatou Diallo, Manyun Liu, Jingjing Yin, Gerardo Chowell, Isaac Fung. 2020. "Social Media Use in Emergency Response to Natural Disasters: A Systematic Review With a Public Health Perspective." Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 14 (1): 139-149: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2020.3 source: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/disaster-medicine-and-public-health-preparedness/article/social-media-use-in-emergency-response-to-natural-disasters-a-systematic-review-with-a-public-health-perspective/6A3A1386C999484DFE74556FB2895D77
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/bee-facpubs/132