Social media for disaster awareness and management in Nigeria

Abstract

Disasters happen unexpectedly and the effects can be severe on victims and communities where it happened. During disasters, communication is vital as it ensures that people are aware of disaster occurrence and how such can be managed. Social media has gained popularity and expanded its function in recent years to become the platform that ensures that there is no information breakdown in any geography where disaster occurs. Armed with mobile devices, smartphones and mini-computers, users are now able to, without restrictions publish information about disasters, hence, creating awareness and boosting efforts channeled at managing such. This study, hinged on the social responsibility and status conferral theory, examines social media for disaster awareness and management in Nigeria. This study reviewed concepts through secondary data sources while primary data was generated through survey and questionnaire administration to 390 respondents through purposive sampling. Findings revealed that social media is highly engaged for disaster awareness and management purposes in Nigeria though there are challenges to the use of the platform; challenges such as low internet penetration, dearth of disaster trainings, weak response by disaster management agencies and circulation of false information during disasters. The study concludes that social media is a viable tool for disaster awareness and management in Nigeria but recommends that disaster management agencies should improve social media presence, engage their followers and be responsive when they are tagged during disasters. The Nigerian government should also anticipate disasters and mitigate them so that disaster impacts can be reduced.