Social media can save lives but not stop disasters
Social networks like Twitter cannot help prevent disasters but can quickly correct misinformation resulting from false rumours preventing possible further loss of lives, a leading researcher will tell a public debate on 25th October at the Cambridge Festival of Ideas.
Professor John Preston, who is based at the University of East London’s Cass School of Education, will tell the ‘Violent Nature’ Research Councils UK debate that Twitter and Facebook have been credited with being able to pick up advance signals of disasters.
However, it is only in retrospect that the significance of the signals can be ascertained, he says.
The debate focuses on whether governments, scientists and aid agencies can manage the risks of living in potentially lethal locations. Other speakers include Professor James Jackson from the University of Cambridge, Daniel Walden, policy adviser for disaster risk reduction at Save the Children UK and Dr Andrew Collins, reader and director of the Disaster and Development Centre at Northumbria University. It will be chaired by James Randerson, the Guardian’s science and environment editor.
Read the full article at Business Weekly.
Please visit the Violent Nature event on the Festival of Ideas website for more information and to book tickets.
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