At the end of 2019, during the outbreak of COVID-19, the Chinese government and media used social media extensively to release emergency information. Once this information was released, it immediately attracted significant public attention. This study used a questionnaire survey to determine social media users’ habits during the COVID-19 outbreak. The results indicated that in the case of community closure during sudden public health events, the majority of respondents use social media to obtain information to understand the development trends of an epidemic, the government’s emergency strategy, scientific epidemic prevention knowledge, and accurate information. Based on the survey results, this study considers the value of social media for emergency information, which is both a tool and a new trend in information dissemination in the context of emergencies.

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The widespread application of social media in the field of crisis management has been adopted globally. In recent years, the role of social media in emergencies has grown, especially during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study explores the different roles played by social media in the government, the media, and the public during the pandemic through the key nodes of information dissemination at each developmental stage of crisis risk communication. The results indicate that in a government-led environment, in which social media is the link and the public is the core, attention must be directed towards the key role of social media as a “whistleblower” during the incubation period of a crisis event. Moreover, a new gatekeeping mechanism that integrates the public, the media, and the government should be formed to improve emergency management during crises.