everywhereness on many individuals, appears to require a reassessment in the way avalanche educators introduce the topics of human factors and decision making. When Ian McCammon first presented the findings of his research on avalanche accidents and heuristic traps in at ISSW (2002), Facebook was more than two years from its initial launch. McCammon found that "acceptance" and "social facilitation" (where other people, present or nearby, enhances or attenuates risk-taking by a subject) were two heuristics that appeared to play a role in avalanche accidents. In 2002, the phrase, "be nearby," meant physically near presence. Today, in 2016, with the development of social media and related technology, "other people...nearby" has been simultaneously expanded to a potentially worldwide audience and shrunk to the size and portability of a smartphone. Decisions taken in remote environments are no longer taken in isolation. As a result of these changes, avalanche education must address the impact of technology and social media on decision making. Backcountry social media users should be challenged to consider the questions to whom and for what purpose they are constructing their online narratives." />

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Item: Social Media and Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain

    • Title: Social Media and Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain

      Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop 2016 Proceedings, Breckenridge, CO, USA

      Authors:

      • Jerry Isaak  [ State University of New York College at Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, NY, USA ]

      Date: 2016-10-02

      Abstract: The rapid advance of social media into remote environments, and the resulting "invisible pressure" of everywhereness on many individuals, appears to require a reassessment in the way avalanche educators introduce the topics of human factors and decision making. When Ian McCammon first presented the findings of his research on avalanche accidents and heuristic traps in at ISSW (2002), Facebook was more than two years from its initial launch. McCammon found that "acceptance" and "social facilitation" (where other people, present or nearby, enhances or attenuates risk-taking by a subject) were two heuristics that appeared to play a role in avalanche accidents. In 2002, the phrase, "be nearby," meant physically near presence. Today, in 2016, with the development of social media and related technology, "other people...nearby" has been simultaneously expanded to a potentially worldwide audience and shrunk to the size and portability of a smartphone. Decisions taken in remote environments are no longer taken in isolation. As a result of these changes, avalanche education must address the impact of technology and social media on decision making. Backcountry social media users should be challenged to consider the questions to whom and for what purpose they are constructing their online narratives.

      Language of Article: English

      Presenters:

      Keywords: technology, human factors, avalanche education, social networks

      Page Number(s): 230-234

      Subjects: social networks human factors avalanche education

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