The recent Queensland Floods, devastating though they were, are a strong case study in the political power of social media to encourage large scale dialogue and activism among citizens.
Shirky (2011) explains that social media allows “greater access to information, more opportunities to engage in public speech, and an enhanced ability to undertake collective action”.
Social media was used comprehensively by both Government and citizens alike during the flood. We saw the initial dissemination of information through many channels: The Queensland Police Service Facebook and Twitter pages, YouTube videos, and personal anecdotes shared through Facebook. This information was added to and shared continuously throughout the floods, resulting in an overwhelming outpouring of support from around the globe. Most impressively was the way in which social media was used to enable the coordination and mobilization of thousands of local volunteers in to assist in the prevention and clean up of flood damage.
Hundreds of volunteers begin cleaning up Brisbane
Jeff Camden
Courier Mail Galleries: Brisbane flood clean up pictures
Social media was used to overwhelmingly positive effect during the floods and for myself the experience will never stop serving as a remind of the political power that social media, used well, can hold.
References
Camden, Jeff. 2011. "Hundreds of volunteers begin cleaning up on Bayswater St, Rosalie". Image. Accessed March 27, 2011. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/gallery-e6frer9f-1225987588708?page=104.
Shirky, Clay. 2011. The Political Power of Social Media. Foreign Affairs 90(1), pp. 28-41.
Hey Jess.
ReplyDeleteYou have written a wonderful blog. I hope you don't mind that I used it in my blog as well. I really like how you used the example of the floods and the affect social media had on the recovery effort. I thought it was very creative and effective. Great job.