Nowadays, because of the evolution of technology, the life of the people became easier and faster. One of these is with the use of social media. Social media is a tool which is used to have a better interaction and communication. With the help of social media, people used to create online communities to share information and ideas. It is very important since it helped families, workers, and the environment in discerning information during calamities.
I. Family
Currently, many families in which the father and mother work and children stay in different places. It is difficult for such families to communicate instantly or effectively without seeking the services of social media. It should be noted that regular communication is necessary to strengthen the love, intimacy and rapport among family members. Social media like Facebook, Skype and Twitter help families to engage in instant audio and video chats so that the intimacy and love among the family members can be strengthened.
Before, people used letters to communicate in distant places. However in today’s generation, family members in distant places use social media to communicate easier. An instant and effective communication is a blessing for family communication. Social media has a role in enhancing family communication and relationships.
II. Social Workers
Social media has enabled social workers across the world to connect, share knowledge and information.
The best and most cost-effective outcomes for people who use services are achieved when professionals work and learn together, develop a common language and understanding and share knowledge and wisdom. The use of social technology and social networking enables people to collaborate, build relationships and share information and resources. Aside from that social workers use social media as their voice to educate the people about a certain manner. For example in giving tips for an emergency such as first aid medication. Another way is in educating people about on preparation, reduction and recovery during calamities.
III. Government in disseminating
information during calamities.
Social media is very important especially during emergencies and calamities. It can disseminate critical information. It is also utilized in developing a resource for mutual support and encouragement over the longer term to the disaster victims. According to Paton, “Social media will play increasingly pivotal roles in disaster response and recovery.” It helps and improves relief and rescue operations. Indeed, social media becomes a live-saving tool for everyone.
In the Philippines, there are a lot of calamities such as earthquake, flood, landslides and the most common one, typhoon. Philippines is prone to such calamities since it is near the Pacific Ring of Fire. Here are some calamities that came in the Philippines:
An earthquake occurred in Bohol, an island province located in Central Visayas on October 15, 2013. It has a magnitude of 7.2 that totally affected the whole Central Visayas and damaged several buildings, churches, houses, etc and caused a tsunami. According to official reports by the National Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), 222 were reported dead, 8 were missing, and 976 people were injured. In all, more than 73,000 structures were damaged, of which more than 14,500 were totally destroyed. It was the deadliest earthquake occurred in the Philippines.
On November, just 3 weeks after the quake Super Typhoon Yolanda with an International Name of Haiyan struck the Philippines specifically in the Visayas Region. Tacloban was the most devastated area. Many buildings were damaged and many people were affected and died. Typhoon Yolanda was the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record.
During this time, social media had a huge contribution in discerning information in an instant and effective way. Relief goods and finances were immediate given to the victims mostly from the help of the other countries. Families used social media in contacting their loved ones. Facebook activated its special feature—Safety Check—which helped friends and families locate their near and dear ones. By using this particular feature, users close to the site of the disaster can mark themselves safe and notify their friends. Safety Check also urges other users to indicate when people they know are safe. Aside from that, during the Typhoon Yolanda a google finder was also used in determining, finding and locating someone.
How does the use of social media different from the past where information is only provided by the media (TV, radio, and print
With the help of social media, the interaction and communication became better, easier and faster. There is an instant and effective way of communication. Unlike in the past, for example the news, it is not delivered on the actual time to the people around the world.
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