--- title: "Responding To A Crisis Situation Via Social Media" id: "17124" type: "post" slug: "responding-to-a-crisis-situation-via-social-media" published_at: "2013-04-24T21:57:26+00:00" modified_at: "2013-04-24T21:57:26+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/04/24/responding-to-a-crisis-situation-via-social-media/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/04/24/responding-to-a-crisis-situation-via-social-media.md" excerpt: "During a crisis situation, tone is everything, and as the Boston tragedy showed, a careful, reverent response is the way to go on platforms better-known for more casual approaches. Also: Why you should be transparent with your staff members when..." taxonomy_category: - "Marketing / Communications" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "crisis communication" - "Membership" - "Public Relations" - "Social Media" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Director" - "Executive Team" - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Responding To A Crisis Situation Via Social Media Throughout the Boston tragedy, we saw how technology and social media networks helped citizens and law enforcement officials respond to the crisis. These communication tools helped people find a place to sleep if they were stranded or offer a bed and food to those who couldn’t make it home, and even find out if their loved ones were okay. But if your association isn’t directly affected by the crisis, a careful, cautious response may be a better option than saying anything at all. That, and more, in today’s Social Media Roundup: ### Tweeting During A Tragedy > On Social Media, Tragedy Is a Higher Call to Action [http://t.co/sI8rUpG4uN (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/sI8rUpG4uN) > via @JeniseFryatt > > — Jeff Hurt (@JeffHurt) [April 24, 2013 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/JeffHurt/status/327156537355296769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **At a time of crisis,** social media can effectively help members understand and react to a crisis situation. However, keeping in mind the nature of the event, you should be more cautious about what you’re posting. For instance, you may want to cancel scheduled tweets and avoid tweeting until you’ve written a carefully-thought-out statement. “Silence during times of crisis prevents you from making a devastating social media faux pas. It also gives you a chance to personally process events and gather resources which can help you to respond more helpfully,” Jenise Fryatt, the co-owner and marketing director of Icon Presentations AV, [writes in her post for Cvent (opens in a new tab)](http://blog.cvent.com/blog/jenise-fryatt-bio/on-social-media-tragedy-is-a-higher-call-to-action) . *(ht [@JeffHurt (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/JeffHurt/status/327156537355296769) )* ### Take The Time To Give Feedback > Is your leadership style suffocating your followers? [#asae (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/asae?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#assnchat (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/assnchat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [http://t.co/FzsTTm5bkF (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/FzsTTm5bkF) > > — Neoterica Partners (@Neoterica) [April 24, 2013 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/Neoterica/status/327077732011896832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **When you have a team member that isn’t pulling their weight,** do you let them know or push them aside? As Kerry Stackpole points out, [giving consistent feedback is one of the hardest parts of being a leader (opens in a new tab)](http://www.wired4leadership.com/2013/04/21/is-your-leadership-suffocating-your-followers/) . It’s much easier, and probably less time consuming, to ignore the problems than to point them out. But talking to the staff member about their performance could push them to improve. “It’s likely members of your team are more resilient than you might think,” [Stackpole suggests (opens in a new tab)](http://www.wired4leadership.com/2013/04/21/is-your-leadership-suffocating-your-followers/) . “People can bounce back from failure and shortfalls. If they know their leaders stand with them and are committed helping them get back on track.” *(ht [@Neoterica (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/Neoterica/status/327077732011896832) )* What links have you been sharing today? Let us know in the comments. [Anita Ferrer](https://associationsnow.com/author/anita-ferrer/) Anita Ferrer is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/anita-ferrer/) Tags: [#crisis communication](https://associationsnow.com/tag/crisis-communication/) [#Membership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/membership/) [#Public Relations](https://associationsnow.com/tag/public-relations/) [#Social Media](https://associationsnow.com/tag/social-media/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: More Than Marketing: The Power of Strategic CommunicationsJuly 30, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/07/30/associations-now-presents-more-than-marketing-the-power-of-strategic-communications/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: Why Slower Marketing Can Drive Stronger Member Engagement (Episode 27)June 25, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/06/25/associations-now-presents-why-slower-marketing-can-drive-stronger-member-engagement-episode-27/) - [ArticleTurn Your Members Into the Media’s Go-To Experts: A Guide for AssociationsSeptember 25, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/09/25/turn-your-members-into-the-medias-go-to-experts-a-guide-for-associations/) - [ArticleWhy Your Association Should Start a Podcast (and How to Do It Well)September 22, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/09/22/why-your-association-should-start-a-podcast-and-how-to-do-it-well/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2013%2F04%2F24%2Fresponding-to-a-crisis-situation-via-social-media%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !