Conversations in Conflict Studies presents: Ines Mergel

"Social media monitoring in the public sector: The role of digital volunteers during the #ParisAttacks." Ines Mergel, Associate Professor of Public Administration and International Affairs and PARCC Research Associate
 
Description: The November terror attacks in Paris have shown the potential of social media for information vetting purposes. While formal emergency responders, embassies, and other government organizations moved valuable information to social media platforms, digital volunteers from around the world were activated to monitor and vet social media content. The trusted online actors stepped in and filled the gap between citizens and formal responders to monitor rumors and hoaxes, diffuse false information, and replicate formal information from government organizations. These Virtual Operation Support Teams fill an important role in an increasingly networked environment, when bureaucratic organizations have to focus on response and recovery actions on the ground and don't have the resources and capacities to monitor social media minute-by-minute.
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