ABSTRACT
Social media have become dominant channels for organizations and citizens to share disaster information. Social media platforms can be used to reach publics during disasters, obtain situational awareness of current disaster conditions, and advance a multi-faction collaborative approach to emergency management. Yet there remain critical information gaps. We review academic and grey literature to better integrate scholarship and practice. In doing so, we uncover why social media matters during disasters along with the limitations of social media during disasters. We review theory development in the realm of social media and crisis communication, followed by an overview of how effectiveness is measured when it comes to social media and crisis communication. We conclude with recommendations for future frontiers in practice, research, and theory development.
