Social Media Analysis in Sudden Onset Disasters and its Usefulness for Decision Makers - Excerpt of a Scoping Review

Abstract

Problem: Despite the potential of artificial intelligence for rapid social media analysis, practical implementation remains limited. Approach: We conducted a scoping review using iteratively developed search terms in two electronic databases. We then conducted a descriptive and thematic analysis to capture the key concepts, findings and methods in the literature. Results: After reviewing 130 papers, 27 papers were identified that met our inclusion criteria. Four key themes emerged, including tool development, tool performance comparison, gaining insights from social media data, and usefulness for decision makers. Conclusions: While acknowledging the importance of integrating social media into crisis and disaster management, there is a lack of empirical evidence on data reliability and preparation for decision makers. More empirical studies on social media analytics, specifically focusing on usefulness for crisis and disaster management, are recommended.