Extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and storms, have increased in both frequency and severity in recent years.
This has sparked increased public interest, resulting in often dramatic footage being live-streamed on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and Discord.
Now, a new study at the University of Plymouth has looked for the first time at what might motivate people to watch these broadcasts, in some cases for up to 12 hours at a time.
The research focused on live streaming of three events: Hurricane Irma in 2017, Hurricane Ian in 2022, and storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin in 2022.
Through detailed analysis of viewer comments, it was discovered that people in affected areas were using the broadcasts to discuss official government risk advice they had received, for example whether they should evacuate.
Others were drawn to the creeks because they had a prior connection to the affected region. For these people, watching live footage, which included taking the time to share messages of “hope” that the hurricane or storm would pass without destruction, was a way to show support for the places and people affected by the event.
The research was published in the journal Environmental hazards and was led by Dr Simon Dickinson, Professor of Geohazards and Risk in the University’s School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences.
“When dramatic things happen, whether they relate to extreme weather or events such as tornadoes or volcanic eruptions, people gather to watch. You might assume that this is just a form of online ‘snooping’ and that people are naturally drawn to spectacular sights. However, this study has shown that the motives for viewing images of extreme weather are more complex. Live streams provide the opportunity for people at the event, near and far away to interact in real time. Images become a marker that people use to check their understanding of the significance of the event, how the hazards work, and as an online meeting point to share experiences of similar events. It’s a fascinating insight into human behaviour that has so far been unexplored.”
The investigation focused on nine livestreams of hurricanes and storms from 2017 to 2022, which transmitted a total of 65 hours of video viewed by more than 1.8 million people.
During that time, more than 14,300 comments were left by 5,000 unique accounts, a reflection of the fact that images focused on unfolding events of national or global significance generate higher-than-normal audience engagement.
Many of the streams were existing webcam feeds that were repurposed during the hurricane or storm, such as webcams broadcasting beach or harbor conditions. In some cases, affected individuals streamed live images from their own home security cameras or doorbells.
The study shows that people are eager to learn more about the science behind what is happening, highlighting the need for more work examining how people are using new technologies to understand hazard risk.
Dr Dickinson added: “While scientists are getting better at communicating risks, people are much more likely to talk about hazards in informal and relatively unmoderated settings. Moments of extreme weather are important because they focus people’s attention and generate debate about hazards, how they work and how they will increasingly affect us in the future. It is therefore important that we understand new digital practices such as livestreaming because they are not just spaces for voyeurism in the face of disasters, but rather spaces for learning, community and emotional support in a world that can feel increasingly volatile.”