School Safety, Social Media, and Administrative Technology Aptitude

This infographic begins with an intriguing question:

• "In an area-wide emergency, how likely would you be to use social media channels to let your friends and family know you are safe?

As I've said before, questions almost always lead to more questions (for me for that matter), so I began to think deeper about how this infographic interfaces with schools.

• In the event of an emergency, how likely are parents to use social media channels to acquire necessary information? 
• How could school communication through social media help or hinder effective management and facilitation of a crisis plan during a time of crisis? 
• Do administrators understand digital-age tools well enough to effectively utilize them to communicate? 
• Do school administrators understand digital-age tools well enough to even give the tools a chance as a potential means of communication? 

I encourage district administrators and other practicing administrators to look through this infographic and reflect on how populations use social media. Think about the pros and cons of using social media in an emergency situation or when implementing a crisis plan. Reflect on the ways social media may better connect stakeholders within a community response plan. What can school administrators do now to make an informed decision about the use of social media during a school crisis?