In a Crisis, Depend on Social Media? Don't

Did you know that relying on social media for news can . . .cause you more stress?

Exposure to high rates of conflicting information, which you find on social media, during an emergency is linked to increased levels of stress, and those who rely on text messages or social media reports from unofficial sources are more frequently exposed to rumors and experience greater distress, according to research led by the University of California, Irvine, newswise.com reports. 
“During a crisis situation, like a school shooting or lock-down, people often seek to stay informed about what’s happening. However, when announcements and updates from official channels are lacking or irregular, there’s a high risk that rumors will fill the void,” says principal investigator Roxane Cohen Silver, UCI professor of psychology & social behavior. “We wanted to explore how people coped with ambiguity during a campus lockdown and how a communications vacuum could lead to rumor generation, rumor transmission and distress.” 
I can speak from experience.  Two years ago, when my son was a freshman, his high school received a bomb threat -- and the information that people with rifles on the roof would shoot the kids as they came out.
It turned out not to be true -- but as the rumors that flew over social media, with one mom out-disastering another, it was a horrible time.  
When danger is imminent and official information is disseminated inconsistently, public anxiety is elevated. In the past, people relied on radio and television broadcasts to reduce uncertainty. Today social media channels are frequently the source of updates, and users are exposed to a greater amount of conflicting speculation and unverified reports. 
Moreover, this exposure is associated with greater distress. doctoral student Nickolas M. Jones reports.
“In any uncertain and dangerous situation, it’s important for officials to send frequent updates in real time and, when possible, include new details,” Jones notes. “Emergency management and public safety officers should monitor social media channels to mitigate rumors as they arise. We believe that studying the data generated during these events can provide insight into how communities attempt to deal with crises, which can be used to help better prepare for future events.” 


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