Credibility Assessment for Social Media in Crisis Communication Free Essay Example, 2000 words

Information from the Government Press may have a different level of credibility in comparison to government information conveyed by the use of social media. The management and communication of crisis information is an issue of major concern in China as shown by the nation’s historical events (Zhang, 2013). For example, a nuclear meltdown in Japan at Fukushima nuclear plant produced a significant influence on the concerns about health and safety of the Chinese population. There was a rumor that there was need for adequate consumption of iodized salt to stay safe from radiations and that the China’s future salt supplies will contain impurities from the Japan’s crisis. This rumor encouraged many Chinese people to purchase salt. This incidence is one of the many occurrences that raise the question on how much credibility the Chinese people place on various media platforms. The approach of assessing the credibility of information offers essential perspectives on crisis communication that prompt further research to find out how the sharing of crisis information is achievable with high credibility, both to the information and to the government (Zhang, 2013). We will write a custom essay sample on Credibility Assessment for Social Media in Crisis Communication or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now The Chinese population has advanced technological connections (Arnold, 2008). Most of the people have social media accounts and exchange information and rumors online (Arnold, 2008). The high population density also contributes to the critical role of the social ties and social media in the process of information dissemination. This research will assess the credibility of information that results from social media at the time of the crisis and how people perceive information from such sources. Before the adoption of the internet and the invention of social media, the Chinese people majorly relied on information from newspapers and televisions for breaking news. The growth of communication technologies has transformed the transmission of information. News outlets have hosted websites, blogs, and provided podcasts for them to remain relevant in the dissemination of information in this era of technological advancement (Ivey Business Journal, 2014). The social media, majorly Twitter and Facebook, have become major sources for the dissemination of information in the recent past (Ivey Business Journal, 2014). However, the Chinese government seems to continue placing heavy reliance on these media even after technological breakthroughs and the invention of social media. These current technological advancements in communication and the use of social media are widely attributed to their speed and convenience in relaying information especially in crises (Lyu, 2012).