Here’s a smartphone app idea that is either a recommendation request, or a million dollar idea that you can steal and later repay me with a free copy of said app. Here’s the idea:
The app should be a standard podcast player BUT with the ability to bookmark some points in the podcast where it has useful information you’d like to zip directly to, later.
You should be able to shake the phone or hit a button at any time during playback to set a bookmark, and then review a list of bookmarks in the podcast that you can click and visit at any time in the future.
Good idea? Already bindun? Please let me know in the comments.
(Note: this post was written in response to the lack of government involvement in Social Media support of the event explained in this post. I actually believe the opposite, but was interested to explore the alternative side of the argument as a writing exercise. I am not associated with, nor represent the views of, any government department.)
1. Social Media Is, Essentially, Gossip
Image via Wikipedia
Social Media is marketed as a meeting place for place for friends to discuss opinions and day-to-day activities. It is not moderated or vetted in any way, and mis/disinformation carries as much truck as the gospel truth.
We prefer that official channels remain separate from a crowd-sourced approach, and not a participant in it. We value the ability to be able to ‘cut through’ the noise with predictable, measured responses that people can anticipate, rely upon, and trust. By operating a twitter or facebook account we run the risk of becoming part of the noise, and of needing to compete for attention against other internet users, in some cases, the very people we are trying to advise.
It is far better to remain silent when the risk of inaccurate information may cost a life. It is better to have people actively seeking information from official sources (via phone or by switching on a radio) than to allow them to put their trust in what appears to be an official source. It is difficult to differentiate between official and unofficial sources (and credible and incredible stories) in the social media sphere, especially if people decide to impersonate officials or organisations via unverified accounts.
For example, during the recent Queensland floods, a rumour was spread via social media that an important dam had developed a crack and was about to burst, and that an evacuation centre sheltering 500 people had lost a roof. People were needlessly panicked, and resources had to be devoted to dispelling myths, rather than delivering useful, true, verified information.
2. Social Media Has No Filter
We prefer to issue alerts directly, via a website we directly control, or through media outlets we trust to handle our information with accuracy and sensitivity. Credibility and trust are critical commodities when people are being asked to make critical decisions quickly. Information made available through official governmnent sites goes though a number of levels of review – some may see that as bureaucracy – others may see it as appropriate governance.
Government departments and news organisations have reputations to maintain and are held accountable for the information they serve – they will not jump at shadows as willingly as some self-elected social media mavens may choose do, even with the best on intentions. It is better to remain a separation between a social approach and an official approach.
Social media also depends on unreliable infrastructure. As robust as social media services are, they are not infallible, and have not been built with mission-critical infrastructure. A twitter ‘fail-whale’ should not become a reason that lives are lost.
3. Social Media Reaches Very Few Important People
The people most in need of emergency assistance are those least likely to own or operate smartphones, twitter and facebook accounts. It is better to focus efforts on communication methods that will reach everyone – including those with smartphones and twitter accounts.
Social media does not have close-to-100% population coverage, as traditional media does. Despite figures touting a broad adoption of social media, in times of trouble, people revert to simpler, more direct communication channels, like telephone and radio. SMS is not a guaranteed delivery mechanism for vital information, Twitter and Facebook even less so.
Social Media in Crisis Situations is a Dumb Idea
Government departments are experts in crisis management – and know that it is better to confront a challenging emergency with ruthless economy and certainty. More information is not better information, and is more likely to do harm than benefit. Social media is a useful tool, but it is not the first one we reach for in crisis situations.
I wish there were more official sources to reference here, but WA emergency services are really letting us down – maybe we’ve had our expectations raised by the excellent use of these communication channels in Queensland recent weeks. Perth media has been slow to ramp up; but AM radio is by far your best source.
Here are a few links that offer more-or-less direct links to the people (and robots) currently experiencing Cyclone Yasi in North Queensland.
Mainly so you can avoid the hype-storm the media (and Liberal party) is currently inflicting on us. Cyclone Countdowns on Today Tonight and Tony Abbott using the opportunity for fundraising, sheesh.
Webcams – how they are staying up is anyone’s guess
It’s situations like the one being experienced by the Queenslanders *at the moment* where Social Media really comes into its own. Thanks to some committed netizens, presumably on dry land, there are number of sources where you can see and hear the Brisbane flood stories happening in real time.
Two real-time streams of Tweets regarding the floods:
Here, by popular demand, is some of the documentation gathered by members of the Cook Family of the wedding of my little younger brother Stephen to the beautiful Jo Gilbey on the Central Coast in NSW earlier this month.
BONWAG 