Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

acceptedVersion

Publication Date

1-2015

Abstract

With the uptake of the use of social media, the communication field has seen a rise in a new phenomenon: parody social media accounts. Through study of five such accounts, this paper shows how parody social media accounts can arise from a crisis or paracrisis, which is “a publicly visible crisis threat” that is triggered online (Coombs & Holladay, 2012, p. 409). The study also examines the behavior of these accounts and how they enforce negative perceptions and impede an organization's efforts and initiatives. Using the social-mediated crisis communication model as its theoretical lens, this study seeks to examine parody social media accounts and their impact on organizations in times of crisis. Finally, the paper also gives recommendations on how organizations can respond effectively to these accounts.

Keywords

Social media, Crisis communication, Public relations, Twitter, Facebook, Parody accounts

Discipline

Business and Corporate Communications | Organizational Behavior and Theory | Social Media

Research Areas

Corporate Communication

Publication

Public Relations Review

Volume

41

Issue

3

First Page

381

Last Page

385

ISSN

0363-8111

Identifier

10.1016/j.pubrev.2015.01.002

Publisher

Elsevier

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2015.01.002

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