Informational Sources, Social Media Use, and Race in the Flint, Michigan, Water Crisis

Abstract

Safe, clean water is necessary for health and well-being. Water issues affect minority and vulnerable populations at disproportionate rates, including the poor and racial and ethnic minorities. An investigation of the relationships of race, social media use, and informational sources during the municipal water crisis in Flint, Michigan, reflects an instrumental view of communication and uses and gratifications theory in this study. Data from 208 Flint residents in 2016 indicated that African American respondents favored interpersonal networks and resources and were more likely than other racial groups to obtain current information about the water crisis via Instagram. Preferred channels and sources to receive additional crisis information varied on the basis of race.

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Keywords:

• Informational Sources
• Social Media
• Uses And Gratifications Theory
• Water Crisis

Acknowledgments

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under award no. R21 ES027199-01. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. The authors also thank the residents of Flint, Michigan, for taking the time to participate in our study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under award no. R21 ES027199-01.