Mediaboss Marketing

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- This week, the University of Arkansas increased security on campus after someone heard a rumor while at a bar that there would be a shooting on campus.

Authorities don't think the threat is credible, but it illustrates a heightened sense of awareness surrounding threats to schools.

No doubt social media has also played a big role in awareness.

Last fall, two different possible threats caused confusion at several schools in central Springfield.

While college campuses and some schools were on lockdown, social media blew up with mis-information about what was really going on.

It's very frustrating that we don't have that control anymore, says Springfield Police Chief Paul Williams.

Williams blames social media for spreading misinformation that day.

Before his investigators could let the public know the truth, rumors and suspicions had created chaos and panic on the web.

We took the bull by the horns and said we don't want that to happen again, Williams says. We need to control social media as much as we can.

Williams and school leaders met to craft a new plan for how to disseminate information during a school threat scenario.

Original post:
Social Media Adds New Difficulty to Response on Threats