It is an inevitability in today’s modern world, chock full of suspicious cell phone network trouble and social media outages. In the past few hours Tuesday, Meta appears to have suffered a significant and novel outage, where the websites are still up, but something is preventing users from logging into the service, which includes Facebook and Instagram.
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again, public information officers for government, schools, police, fire, EMS, EMA, public health, etc. need to hear it: “Don’t rely on social media to do your job for you.” You don’t own social media–rich corporations do.
More than ever, it’s vital that public agencies keep a well-updated website and news blog presence. Here are nine reasons why this matters, in no particular order:
- Reliable Source of Information: In an era where misinformation can spread quickly, a well-maintained public safety website serves as a reliable source of official, accurate and timely information. During emergencies or crises, the public can turn to these official sources for updates, guidance, and reassurance.
- Accessibility During Social Media Outages: Dependence on social media platforms for emergency communication can be problematic during outages. A dedicated public safety website remains accessible as an alternative means of communication, ensuring that critical information is still disseminated.
- Comprehensive Information: Unlike social media platforms, which may limit the amount of information that can be shared in a single post, websites and blogs allow for more comprehensive coverage. This means detailed advisories, instructions, and updates can be published without the constraints of character limits or the need for multiple posts.
- Archive and Resource Center: Public safety websites can serve as archives for past incidents and advisories, providing a valuable resource for research and education. This information can be used for preparedness training, research, and by individuals seeking to learn more about specific safety measures.
- Public Engagement and Feedback: While we often discourage blog comments, websites offer mechanisms for public engagement through forums and feedback forms. This two-way communication channel can be invaluable for addressing public concerns, clarifying information, and gathering feedback on emergency response efforts.
- SEO and Visibility: Well-maintained websites with regularly updated content are more likely to rank higher in search engine results, making it easier for the public to find important safety information quickly. In contrast, social media algorithms may not always favor emergency communication in user feeds.
- Accessibility for All: A public safety website can be designed to be accessible to individuals with disabilities, ensuring that information is available to everyone. Social media platforms may not always cater to such accessibility needs.
- Official Presence and Authority: An official website establishes a sense of authority and legitimacy. In times of crisis, this can play a crucial role in public perception, helping to counteract rumors and misinformation.
- Integration with Other Communication Tools: A website can be integrated with other communication tools like SMS alerts, email subscriptions, and RSS feeds, creating a multi-channel approach to public safety communication. This ensures that information reaches as wide an audience as possible. Your website can even bet set up to automatically broadcast your news to social media–when it’s working!
While social media is certainly a powerful tool for instant communication, the existence of a well-maintained public safety blog and website ensures resilience in communication strategies. It guarantees that accurate, comprehensive, and accessible information is always available to the public, especially in situations where social media platforms are not reliable.