A 140-character memorandum was vital for people looking for immediate and in-depth information post-earthquake, particularly since our authorities were late to respond and to communicate time-sensitive information. Also, social media, where verification and authentication are never an issue, was much quicker compared to traditional media which were also affected by the disaster. Thus information seekers turned to any source that provided new details, never mind whether they were rumors or misinformation.Twitter, among other social media sites, was handy to gather and share information post-earthquake when cellular networks were either busy or unavailable. According to a UN report, recent earthquakes in Nepal have affected eight million people, more than a quarter of the population. With such a large number affected and cellular network limited, and with one of the private mobile operators losing network signal immediately after the earthquake, Nepalis resorted to social media, primarily Facebook and Twitter, for information. Many of my friends abroad said they were hooked to social media updates rather than news websites to get first-hand information about friends, family and country. Thus information seeking is the prime driver of the addiction to social media.
Twitter served three basic purposes in post-earthquake Nepal: Updating on friends and family, gathering and sharing information through texts, images and videos and coordinating assistance and relief distribution.
It is human nature to look for family and friends during a disaster. We, the Twitter users, were no exception. After gathering updates on family and friends, we searched for damages wrought by the earthquake. First noticeable public devastation update in social media was the Dharahara collapse followed by other private damages. The images and videos of destruction started pouring into social media thick and fast after that.
#NepalQuakeRelief was third most popular hashtag during the immediate aftermath and it was used to coordinate and organize relief efforts and raise funds by local and global volunteers and well-wishers. This showed how we respond to urgent needs after a disaster.
Based on tweets, the post-earthquake Twitter users can be classified into information sharing and information gathering groups. While a group of users was busy updating on post-quake situation another group was gathering the same.
Twitter is the most popular social networking site in Nepal after Facebook as per alexa.com. Besides convenience of its use even with limited cellular networks, unfiltered posts, first-hand information and timely delivery were other reasons people tuned in to Twitter.
The April-25 earthquake also prompted many government bodies to join Twitter, to share and gather authentic information of the crisis. This prevented misinformation and rumors. Many traditional media depended on information provided by Prime Minister Relief Fund (@Nepal_PM_Fund), Nepal Police (@NepalPoliceHQ) and National Emergency Operation Center (@NEOCOfficial). Based on Twitter complaints, Nepal Police returned around Rs 800,000 to bus passengers who were charged high fares for public transportation on their way home from Kathmandu.
Thus Twitter has been one of the most helpful social networking sites in sharing and gathering post-earthquake information in Nepal. Hadn't it been for Twitter, much of relief distribution and gathering and sharing of information would have been obstructed, to everyone's loss.
Twitter: @bipul100
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