ABSTRACT. The main objective of this paper is to explore and describe the pivotal function of social media in crisis communication, the role of the individual within information exchange from inactive recipient to producer, inquirer or collator of crisis communication, and the features of social networking technologies that are of special applicability to crisis communication. The analysis presented in this paper contributes to research on the relevance of social media as a communication instrument throughout crisis management events, the degree to which the constitution and acceptance of social networking technologies influence established modes of government to citizen communication, and the importance of social media as an instrument for emergency management. pp. 232–238

Keywords: social media; crisis communication; emergency management

How to cite: Bratu, Sofia (2016), “The Critical Role of Social Media in Crisis Communication,” Linguistic and Philosophical Investigations 15: 232–238.

Received 17 November 2015 • Received in revised form 12 February 2016
Accepted 13 February 2016 • Available online 20 May 2016