SNS is a Lifeline: Information Literacy to Avoid Being Misled by Rumors During Disasters
Hello, I am Nanana, a public relations representative for Bousai Komachi Co., Ltd. and an active high school student disaster prevention advisor.
What is the first thing you do immediately after feeling a large tremor?
I suspect many people reach for their smartphones and open social media before even turning on the television.
For me, an ordinary high school student born and raised in Yokohama, social media is as essential as the air I breathe; it is where I keep in touch with friends and check on the latest trends.
However, since I started working at the disaster prevention consulting firm Bousai Komachi, I have learned that this convenient tool can become a weapon that could cost you or your loved ones their lives if used incorrectly.
Today, as an active high school student advisor, I would like to talk about information literacy and how we should engage with social media, which is the tool we rely on most during disasters.
Actually, when a large earthquake occurred in the past, I almost shared unverified information that appeared on my timeline with my friends.
While extreme rumors, such as a lion escaping from a zoo, are one thing, it is easy to reflexively share information based on good intentions, such as reports that a certain shelter is running low on supplies.
However, through my training at Bousai Komachi, I learned that sharing such information out of good intentions can actually hinder rescue operations and drown out the voices of those who truly need help.
Social media during a disaster is truly a lifeline.
That is precisely why we must learn how to verify information correctly so that we do not tangle that lifeline with our own hands.
First, the most important thing when receiving information is to always check the source.
Taking a few seconds to check whether it is an official government account or an individual with an unclear profile can make all the difference.
As I have mentioned in the disaster prevention workshops I have conducted in my local area, it is best to start by being skeptical of information on social media.
In particular, when photos or videos are attached, we tend to unconsciously assume that it must be true because there is evidence.
However, AI technology has advanced recently, making it easy to create fake images that look just like the real thing.
That is why it is important to develop the habit of cross-checking by verifying whether the same information is being reported by multiple reliable sources, rather than jumping on a single piece of information.
Also, before you press the share button, ask yourself if that information is necessary right now.
It is common for information from disasters that occurred several years ago to be reshared as if it were happening right now.
If information shared with good intentions turns out to be a problem that has already been resolved, it will only lead to confusion on the ground.
As a personal rule, I have decided never to share information if the primary source is unclear, no matter how worrying the content may be.
I believe that acting as a filter for information is a new form of disaster preparedness required of us as digital natives.
To use social media wisely, preparation during normal times is also essential.
Instead of scrambling to find accounts for information gathering after a disaster strikes, you should follow the accounts of your local municipality, the Japan Meteorological Agency, and trusted experts right now, in this peaceful moment.
I have created a list specifically for disaster prevention on my smartphone.
With this, when the time comes, I can efficiently catch only the necessary information without getting caught up in a storm of rumors.
Refining your information-gathering skills is just as valid a disaster prevention action as stocking up on emergency food.
Furthermore, we must also think about the output of information—that is, our own posts.
What if I were to be affected by a disaster and had to ask for help on social media?
In that case, I would need to state my specific location, current situation, and the reason why rescue is needed, calmly and concisely.
With just a vague 'help me,' rescue teams wouldn't know where to go.
When I participated in a disaster prevention event hosted by Bousai Komachi Co., Ltd., I practiced how to write rescue requests on social media.
Writing down not just the address, but also specific details like nearby prominent buildings, room numbers, and landmarks visible from the outside, is the key to shortening the time until rescue.
And after being safely rescued, you must post an update saying that the situation has been resolved.
If you don't do this, the rescue request will continue to drift around the internet indefinitely, causing valuable rescue resources to be wasted.
Only when you can control both the input and output of information does social media become a true lifeline.
Also, it is expected that internet connectivity will become difficult during a disaster.
At such times, we might panic due to the anxiety of not being able to use our smartphones.
I am also learning disaster preparedness that does not rely too heavily on the internet.
This includes keeping a printed paper copy of the hazard map for the town where I live and walking the route to the evacuation site myself to memorize it.
It is precisely because we have analog preparations in place that we can use digital tools more calmly and effectively.
Don't be swayed by information; learn to ride the wave of information.
I am convinced that this mindset is the new common sense for disaster prevention that we young people should spread throughout our communities.
There is one more thing I have deeply engraved in my heart from what I learned during the training.
It is that the stress during a disaster is amplified many times over by uncertain information.
Staring at your smartphone screen and immersing yourself in negative information significantly harms your mental health.
That is why putting your phone down and taking a deep breath is also an important part of literacy.
If you can maintain peace of mind, the risk of being misled by rumors is greatly reduced.
Now, changing the subject, I would like to touch briefly on hygiene management as a form of literacy for life in evacuation centers.
People who have the ability to choose information correctly often choose the right things to prepare as well, don't they?
As an advisor, the one thing I believe is absolutely essential is the issue of toilets.
When flush toilets stop working during a disaster, are you really feeling safe just by having ordinary plastic bags ready?
I once observed an experiment where waste was placed in a regular bag and left, and the smell after a few hours was truly horrendous.
Continuing to live in such an environment causes significant physical and mental damage.
That is why I strongly recommend BOS odor-proof bags.
They have an astonishing performance where you cannot smell anything even if you put your nose right up to them, and they can dramatically change the quality of life in an evacuation center.
Scrutinize information and choose truly valuable preparations.
This can also be said to be one of the achievements of excellent information literacy.
We can connect with the whole world through social media.
However, in the extreme state of a disaster, the only things you can truly rely on in the end are the knowledge you have built up daily and your own sound judgment.
Have the courage to stop the spread of rumors.
Have the patience to calmly wait for official information.
And, be aware that what you share could be connected to someone's life.
As an advisor who is a current high school student, I want to continue sharing how to protect lives in this digital age.
Disaster prevention is not something that just one person should work hard at alone.
By each of us becoming a wise guardian of information, the safety of the entire community will be improved.
I have a request for you who read this article today.
Right now, please try sharing just one rule of your own regarding how to handle information during a disaster with your followers.
That small post might become the first step in saving someone's life when an emergency eventually happens.
So that we in the future can laugh together, saying we were glad we polished our literacy back then.
Let's start digital disaster prevention together—correctly, wisely, and warmly.
We will not yield to rumors.
With reliable information in hand, let's overcome any hardship together.
Under the sky of Yokohama, I will continue to send out disaster prevention messages today, with a smartphone in one hand, but my heart firmly planted on the ground.
May your day today be safe and filled with new realizations.
Thank you very much for reading until the end.
Finally, we would like to provide some information from our company, Bosai Komachi Co., Ltd.
Bosai Komachi Co., Ltd. specializes in disaster prevention consulting for places where people gather and entrust each other with precious lives, such as local neighborhood associations, religious facilities, and social welfare facilities.
We propose tailor-made disaster prevention plans that are suited to the characteristics of the land, the structure of the buildings, and the individual needs of the people who gather there.
In elderly care facilities that require meticulous care during disasters, and at temples and shrines that serve as local emotional anchors, we value the process of turning invisible risks into reliable peace of mind, one by one.
We provide professional expertise with integrity to raise the disaster prevention capabilities of the entire region and work together to create a future where no one is left behind.
Bousai Komachi Co., Ltd. will support you with the utmost sincerity to protect the places and communities you have cherished for the next generation.
Please feel free to contact us, even for minor questions or concerns.
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