• Latest
  • All
  • How To
Social media gaffe

Lessons from the Strathmore University drill about obtaining information from social media

June 8, 2016
Bitchat

Jack Dorsey Launches Bitchat, a Bluetooth-Only Messaging App

July 10, 2025
YouTube AI slop is getting demonetized

YouTube Declares War on Low-Effort AI Videos via Demonetization

July 10, 2025
Why Can'y You Register a Safaricom SIM Card After 7 PM

Why You Cannot Register a Safaricom SIM Card After 7 PM

July 10, 2025
Former Safaricom Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Cynthia Karuri-Kropac

Frankline Okata Takes Over as Cynthia Karuri-Kropac Exits Safaricom PLC

July 10, 2025
DHgate Tablet Cases deals
AI

OpenAI and Perplexity Launch Browsers to Rival Google Chrome

July 10, 2025
Vivo-Y29-4G

Vivo Y29 Launches in Kenya at KES 23,999

July 10, 2025
galaxy z fold7-galaxy z flip7-samsung

Samsung Unveils Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 with Bigger Screens

July 10, 2025
GTA VI

Rockstar May Be Testing 96-Player Servers for GTA 6

July 10, 2025
Former X CEO, Linda Yaccarino

Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years

July 9, 2025
Apple-WWDC25-iOS-26

iPhone Users Are Not Too Happy With the iOS 26 Liquid Glass Design

July 9, 2025
Official document handover by Bernard Mwonyonyo and Habib Lukaya from Roam.

E-Mobility in Kenya Gets a Lift with New Bike Financing Program

July 9, 2025
Samsung

This Samsung Security Update Could Change How You Use Your Phone

July 9, 2025
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
No Result
View All Result

Lessons from the Strathmore University drill about obtaining information from social media

Kiruti Itimu by Kiruti Itimu
June 8, 2016
in Features
Reading Time: 2 mins read
256
0
Social media gaffe

Courtesy: ProSar

Social media gaffe
Courtesy: ProSar

Twitter is really good at disseminating  breaking news items and this has its merits and its disadvantages. The merits include the rapid transfer of information from the source to the public if you are a credible source. The demerits are sometimes the information being disseminated could be false and that has repercussions like your credibility taking a hit, causing unnecessary panic or worry and being shamed in the process.

Today there were reports going on the timeline about an “attack” at Strathmore University which was later clarified to be a drill. The tweets depicted a scenario riddled with panic and chaos around the University.

Gunshots in madaraka near Strathmore university

— Add your name (@Nansikombai) November 30, 2015

Someone thought it was orchestrated by an infamous terror group.

Al Shabaab attacking Strathmore University.. gun shots.. mayhem!

— Daya Interactive (@dayainteractive) November 30, 2015

Some were reporting there were gunmen inside.

Gunmen inside strathmore university. . Heavy shooting via @PRSA_Roadsafety

— Ma3Route (@Ma3Route) November 30, 2015

A hashtag was quickly generated.

I was heading to SBS to read for my exams but changed my mind to read from home now getting info of the attack waa #StrathmoreAttack

— Gidi Ogidi (@GidiOgidi) November 30, 2015

So the latest unconfirmed info is that it was a robbery at chase bank inside the canteen

— Gidi Ogidi (@GidiOgidi) November 30, 2015

The keyword there is “unconfirmed” and there lies the problem. On social media, the updates about a certain event could be true or not and that is why verification is key. One of the various ways we seek verification about an incident is by tracking updates from people who are at the epicentre or by a statement from an authority. In this case, we started seeing tweets with pictures from alleged students who posted updates about the situation on the ground:

Several #Strathmore University students injured following a drill at the institution pic.twitter.com/3E0MzrITap

— Ma†e †ongola (@Mate_Tongola) November 30, 2015

This picture is even more profound where it displayed students who had sought refuge on the side of the building.

wtf is happening to our school 😯😯😨😨 pic.twitter.com/e4GEcy12V2

— Debby Ogeto 🔆 (@PweetyDee) November 30, 2015

It was later on reported to be a drill and confirmed by the University itself.

Note that there is NO terror attack in Strathmore University. A drill is being carried out in.People should not panic ~ @NDOCKenya.

— Nation FM (@NationFmKE) November 30, 2015

https://twitter.com/StrathU/status/671315516557033472

There are lessons to be learnt from this incident and how it was reported on social media:

  1. Not every information you see being posted on social media about a certain event is true. The pictures could be doctored and the information could be misconstrued. If you don’t know what is happening, seek clarification.
  2. Don’t tweet to give information about the said incident if you are not at the scene or you’re not in a position of authority to give more information to the public. Spreading wrong information will damage your credibility and people will end up not trusting you in the future even if you give factual information later on.
  3. Seek clarification from an authority that can be able to give more information about the incident. In this case, we had to wait for the official communication from Strathmore University and they were able to clear the air about the incident.
  4. Social media is an excellent tool for spreading information and if used well, it can be effective in helping people in need if there is a crisis. Don’t dole out incorrect information because it could lead to a person not being assisted or rescued in the process.
Tags: Social Media
SendShare146Tweet92
Kiruti Itimu

Kiruti Itimu

Culture Editor. Covers the intersection of Tech, Social Media and Web Culture. Tech enthusiast [email protected]

Related Posts

Counterfeit Products Infiltrate Kenya's Online Market

Counterfeit Goods Flood Kenyan Online Shops Like Jumia and Facebook

June 29, 2025
Togo Cracks Down on Social Media as Protests Demand Leader's Resignation

Togo Shuts Down Social Media Access

June 29, 2025
social media protests Kenya

#SiriNiNumbers: Gen Z-Led Protests Dominate Kenyan Streets and Social Media

June 25, 2025
Kenya's Government Censors X for Global Image

Abductions and Arrests! Kenyan Government’s Fear and Hate of X Users Makes No Sense

June 25, 2025
Social media surveillance

New Proposal to Give DCI KES 150M to Track Social Media Users

June 11, 2025
University student fined for defamatory Facebook posts

University Student Fined KES 7.5 Million for Defamatory Facebook Posts

May 29, 2025

Latest

Bitchat

Jack Dorsey Launches Bitchat, a Bluetooth-Only Messaging App

July 10, 2025
YouTube AI slop is getting demonetized

YouTube Declares War on Low-Effort AI Videos via Demonetization

July 10, 2025
Why Can'y You Register a Safaricom SIM Card After 7 PM

Why You Cannot Register a Safaricom SIM Card After 7 PM

July 10, 2025
Former Safaricom Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Cynthia Karuri-Kropac

Frankline Okata Takes Over as Cynthia Karuri-Kropac Exits Safaricom PLC

July 10, 2025
AI

OpenAI and Perplexity Launch Browsers to Rival Google Chrome

July 10, 2025
Vivo-Y29-4G

Vivo Y29 Launches in Kenya at KES 23,999

July 10, 2025

Best devices

budget smartwatches 2025

Best Budget Smartwatches To Buy in Kenya 2025

February 13, 2025

Best Infinix Smartphones To Buy in Kenya 2024

February 13, 2025

Best Laptops for Battery Life in 2024

August 21, 2024

Best “Battery Warrior” Smartphones To Buy in 2024

August 22, 2024

Jack Dorsey Launches Bitchat, a Bluetooth-Only Messaging App

July 10, 2025

YouTube Declares War on Low-Effort AI Videos via Demonetization

July 10, 2025

Techweez is a fast growing influential source of technology news, reviews and analysis by leading tech geeks in the industry.

Follow Us

Editorials

Abductions and Arrests! Kenyan Government’s Fear and Hate of X Users Makes No Sense

Actors and Film Crews Are Worried About Veo 3 Taking Their Jobs

Samsung QLED TVs Now Officially Certified for Real Quantum Dot Technology

Trump’s Tariffs Will Be the End of Affordable Tech

5 Ways to Prep Your Tech for Resale

The Weaponization of PDFs: How Cybercriminals Are Exploiting a Trusted Format

More News

Samsung Unveils Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 with Bigger Screens

Rockstar May Be Testing 96-Player Servers for GTA 6

Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years

iPhone Users Are Not Too Happy With the iOS 26 Liquid Glass Design

E-Mobility in Kenya Gets a Lift with New Bike Financing Program

This Samsung Security Update Could Change How You Use Your Phone

  • Terms Of Use
  • Techweez Brand
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!

Hey there! Just a heads-up: we're big fans of cookies - both the digital and edible kind! 🍪 We use our cookies and some from third parties to ensure your browsing experience on our site is smooth sailing and secure.

 

But wait, there's more! We also use cookies to gather stats and insights on how you navigate our site. It's like getting a behind-the-scenes peek at your digital adventures!

 

Don't worry, you're in control. You can adjust your cookie settings anytime to suit your preferences. Feeling curious? Dive into our Privacy Policy for all the juicy details. Happy browsing! 🚀

Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
  • Automotive
  • Entertainment

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.