Use and role of social media in disaster and crisis management: Twitter example

In the scope of this study, a comprehensive literature review was made on the correct and reliable use of social media in disaster and crisis management, and by examining and evaluating the obtained data, it was tried to reveal the applications that are incomplete and made about how Twitter can be used in disaster and crisis management. By detecting these deficiencies, it was aimed to guide the individuals to use social media more accurately, to be sent the grants to the disaster area or to contribute to the intervention and improvement works of the professionals by providing the necessary connections, and to accelerate the efforts to make it faster and safer. Therefore, it was aimed to be a study showing that the use of social media can be useful in the disaster and crisis management fields. In the study, use of social media in disasters occurred especially in Turkey and different regions of the world were investigated. The current uses of social media, shortcomings and how they should be used after a disaster were presented, and the determinations were made to reduce the lack of communication, coordination and management weakness in disasters. Researches shows that unnecessary use of social media could not be prevented, the inaccuracy of provided information could not be corrected, the posts made on Twitter could not be reached and could not be categorized. Even a unit to deal with these issues has not been established in the institutions and organizations. By doing these arrangements, the public will be informed with up-to-date and accurate information on the social media (especially Twitter) network, individuals will be enabled to gain awareness and sensitivity against disasters, interventions and aids will be facilitated, hence, individuals who will work in this field will be trained and will work in their own units. Eventually, high reliability will be ensured with the creation of a single unit that shares the necessary information, updates and what needs to be done. Keywords: Disaster, Communication, Social Media, Twitter