Masterarbeit im Studiengang Internationale Studien/Friedens- und Konfliktforschung von Sabrina Neuhäusel: Risk Cultures and Citizens‘ Perception of Social Media Use in Emergencies – A German Case Study

Social Media [SM] has become an essential component of contemporary crisis management and communication strategies, and its value across various natural or human-induced emergency events is well-attested. However, studies that offer explanatory factors for citizens’ divergent risk perception and behavior before, during, and after emergencies – particularly in relation to SM – are still scarce. This study addresses this gap by transferring Cornia et al.’s (2016) risk culture framework, differentiating between state-oriented, individualistic, and fatalistic risk cultures, to the realm of SM to analyze citizens’ use of and attitudes toward SM in emergencies. Therefore, an online survey with N=192 German citizens was conducted to investigate whether recent incidents, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or the 2021 Ahr Valley flood, which have caused widespread criticism of and dissatisfaction with the effectiveness of Germany’s civil protection systems, have changed citizens’ risk perception and crisis management strategies, and how this affected their SM use. Specifically, it was examined whether Germany has shifted from a state-oriented risk culture to an individualistic one. The findings of the quantitative and qualitative analyses reveal an interplay between state-oriented and individualistic risk culture attitudes, where both state-provided guidance and personal initiative, i.e., in the form of increased reliance on SM, play essential roles in navigating crises. The results also highlight practical implications for improving future crisis communication strategies and context-sensitive approaches to strengthening societal resilience, thus contributing to a deeper understanding of how socio-cultural contexts shape citizens’ risk perception and behavior.

Betreuerin: Stefka Schmid, M.A.
Prüfer: Prof. Dr. Dr. Christian Reuter