Author(s): Oana-Cătălina NĂSTASE (c. FRĂȚILĂ)
Publication name: Romanian Intelligence Studies Review
Publisher name: Mihai Viteazul National Intelligence Academy
Document type: Journal article
Publication date: June 30, 2021
Pagination: 129-142
Issue/ Volume: 25/2021
DOI: 10.66766/RISR.2021.1.08
Abstract:
The coronavirus pandemic surprised the entire planet and caused changes in
everyone’s lifestyle. In many areas it took inventiveness to keep the situation afloat. The
online environment became the main means of communication during the period when
social distance became compulsory. In addition to communication, in many areas, the
online environment has become the only possibility of carrying out activities. Areas such
as education, culture and the economy have minimized physical interaction and adapted
the activities to the online environment. National security institutions have also adapted to
the use of the online environment to keep the population informed in the pandemic context.
Social networks are the most widely used information tools of this period. If, until the
beginning of the state of emergency, social networks were used by these institutions to
some extent, the switch to online has led to an increased public presence in the virtual
environment of institutions with a role in ensuring national security.
Through this study, using content analysis, we will show whether and how much
the pandemic has changed the work of national security institutions on social networks.
The pandemic brought a wave of information to social media, and those who aimed to
maintain a balance realized that they had to be present online. Perhaps this would have
been necessary, regardless of the pandemic. Digital natives would have prompted a
change in the way activities were carried out. We can say that the pandemic has just
hastened things.
Keywords: pandemic, national security, social media, online, information
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