Sociodemographic Characteristics of Social Media Users in Crisis and Disaster Situations: Results of a Representative German Online Panel

Abstract

Communication via social media during crises and disasters plays an important role in the disaster management cycle. However, research from a sociodemographic perspective that describes and compares everyday use versus use during crises and disasters is scarce. Hence, we conducted a representative panel survey in Germany (N = 476 participants, 50.6% female; M(age)= 37.8 years) to compare social media use and sociodemographic correlates in both contexts. The most consistently used platforms are WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, with younger age groups favoring image-based platforms. Information about weather conditions, family/friends, and traffic is primarily shared and sought in crisis and disaster situations. Only a small percentage shares information publicly, mostly in the age range of 22 to 48 years (M(age) = 35.49 years, SD(age) = 12.93 years). The analysis reveals that the use of social media during crises and disasters is not representative of the general population and may reflect a small group (whose information is publicly available). Nevertheless, social media are an important tool to capture acute reactions and communicate with the public due to their fast-paced and interactive communication processes. A closer look at actual users is recommended for big data analysis of social media data to identify potential biases.