University of Maryland Students Rely on Push Technology for Snowstorm Information

With this potentially huge snowstorm approaching, there are many different ways students are getting the latest updates on things like cancellations, snow amounts and when this storm will be beginning. What is interesting is that most students are not seeking out the information, but rather waiting for the news to come to them.

Traditionally, one will watch the Weather channel or surf weather-related websites to get the information they need. 

Modern social networking, however, is completely changing the way students are getting this information. Students are relying more and more on push technology for information on this upcoming snowstorm. Various social media platforms, particularly Facebook and Twitter, are at the forefront of this new trend of how weather news is consumed.

     

Steffanie Espat, a University of Maryland student, usually checks Twitter and Facebook to see if her peers have posted any snowstorm related information.

With students constantly updating their accounts with statuses about the storm, it is nearly impossible for students to miss out on important weather information. In addition to students and University staff tweets and status updates, there is Terp Weather - a Twitter account and Facebook page dedicated entirely to UMD weather. Run by senior geography major Jordon Tessler, the accounts are used to inform the university and College Park community about upcoming weather happenings.

Overnight snow looks to hit at least 4" across much of the Metro area. 6 easily in play, 8 in contention too
— TerpWeather (@TerpWeather) February 12, 2014

DC going to a snow emergency at 6:30 tonight
— TerpWeather (@TerpWeather) February 12, 2014

The stuff coming overnight is what matters. That's all snow before it starts to mix at some point on Thursday morning
— TerpWeather (@TerpWeather) February 12, 2014

The University of Maryland also has an e-mail and text update system that sends out updates regarding cancellations and closings of university classes and facilities.

Another University of Maryland student said that she usually waits for the updates from the University of Maryland alert system to inform her about the upcoming storm. 

It is easy to see that the various social media technologies pushing out all this snow storm related information to students has made seeking out this news from weather outlets way less necessary.