Effectiveness of Social (New) Media in the communication of climate risks

Abstract

The safety of lives and property at minimum costs is essential across all human endeavours, and this is the goal of governments and individuals. Environmental risks such as hydrological hazards (e.g. flooding) on the other hand threaten the safety of lives and property most times at monumental costs to those affected irrespective of their status. The effective communication of environmental risks however mediates between these two because it triggers action that juxtaposes findings from risk research with the social and political will required to achieve safety of lives and property.

Documentary analysis was used to assess the effectiveness of New (social) Media comparative to traditional media in the communication of risks with particular reference to natural or man-made hazards.

Social (New) media as an emergent communication technology platform has many other beneficial attributes for risk communication. However, concerns bordering on credibility and data integrity, it is not solely a reliable and effective tool or channel for communicating climate risks.  However, the benefits of social media for information sharing before, during and after risk events notwithstanding, I argue based on the rationalist-instrumental model of communication, that meeting the ethics demand, data integrity and governance protocol of risk communication is critical and are non-negotiable imperatives. Hence, they (social media channels) do not serve effectively for the communication of risks.  

Are you sure you want to delete this "resource"?
This item will be deleted immediately. You cannot undo this action.

Related Resources

Guidance material
01 Feb 2024
These guidelines and tools provide the necessary know-how to develop and strengthen a policy basis for DRR and risk-informed development. The present guidance provides pathways for climate information that is scientifically sound and publicly availab...
Tags: Guidance material, Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Law
Report
30 May 2014
The African continent is currently in the midst of simultaneously unfolding and highly significant demographic, economic, technological, environmental, urban and socio-political transitions. Africa’s economic performance is promising, with booming ...
Tags: Report, Climate Change Adaptation, Resilience and Disaster Risk Management, Urban Risk Reduction
29 Oct 2013
The report presents recommendations to strengthen the linkages between climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction through improving DRR tools and approaches for an enhanced adaptation to climate change impacts.  Link to document http://ww...
Tags: Climate Change Adaptation
Scroll to Top