1. © Crown copyright Met Office Dissemination of warnings and forecasts – social networks 29 th November 2012 Sarah Davies, Met Office

2. © Crown copyright Met Office Communicating our forecasts and warnings - UK Met Office website Public Weather Service You Tube Twitter Facebook Flickr Blog Mobile Phone / Apps

4. © Crown copyright Met Office 1/4 of all time spent online is now spent on social media sites. Facebook and YouTube are the 2nd and 3rd most visited websites in the UK. of UK internet users have their own social media profile. 44% About social media in the UK Facebook YouTube

5. © Crown copyright Met Office What we’re doing

6. © Crown copyright Met Office Twitter www.twitter.com/metoffice Twitter statistics - Met Office has over 88,000 followers. What is Twitter? Twitter is a micro-blogging platform where users share updates with their followers in under 140 characters. What we’re doing on Twitter 24/7 customer service response. Severe weather alerts, news stories, press releases, events.

7. © Crown copyright Met Office Facebook www.facebook.com/metoffice Facebook statistics Met Office has 18,000 likes. What is Facebook? Facebook is a online social network where members can become a fan of a brand or organisation and receive its updates. What we’re doing on Facebook Fans can get updates on weather conditions and information on weather phenomena, ask questions, view severe weather warnings and share pictures.

8. © Crown copyright Met Office Met Office news blog www.metofficenews.wordpress.com What we’re doing on the blog Response to news reports, explanatory ‘what is…’ posts, climate news. What is a blog? Blog is short for web log. Blogs contain frequently updated ‘posts’, and are often commentary or personal opinion. The most recent post is always at the top of the page.

9. © Crown copyright Met Office Flickr www.flickr.com/metoffice Flickr statistics The Met Office photos on Flickr have been viewed over 105,000 times. What is Flickr? Flickr is a photo sharing website which allows you to share your pictures with others and create slideshows. What we’re doing on Flickr We have groups for clouds, snow, general weather and severe weather pictures with hundreds of members contributing their photos.

10. © Crown copyright Met Office YouTube www.youtube.com/themetoffice YouTube statistics Met Office videos have been watched over 235,000 times. Our videos have been embedded into national newspaper websites. What is YouTube? YouTube is a video sharing website. Users can watch, comment and share videos uploaded by others. What are we doing on YouTube? About the Met Office, explanatory videos e.g. What is climate?, extreme and unusual weather forecasts.

11. © Crown copyright Met Office Case study – Katia

12. What else can we use social media for? Education Blogs YouTube videos eg how to understand warnings http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s- _EVcjZjY&feature=plcphttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s- _EVcjZjY&feature=plcp Collecting evidence to verify warnings Any other ideas? © Crown copyright Met Office

13. Discussion In your groups answer these questions What kinds of social media are used in your country? How could you use social media to issue warnings and forecasts? Feed back in 10 minutes © Crown copyright Met Office