Abstract:

Introduction:
In the contemporary digital age, social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, have revolutionized the way individuals interact, share information, and respond to events, including crises within educational settings. In Kuwait, a country embracing the opportunities of a digital era, the integration of social media platforms during times of crisis has emerged as a significant advancement in crisis management strategies, especially within the educational sitting.

Participants:
The number of private schools in Kuwait is 181 school, including 62 Arab schools, and 119 foreign schools. The sample included 28 private school principals, equivalent to 15.4% of the total study population, who were selected in a simple random manner.

Methodology:
The study utilized the descriptive method, which is one of the most common methods for this type of study. The use of the questionnaire as a tool for collecting information is the preferred method in studies aimed at detecting the attitudes, wishes or needs of individuals. The questionnaire consisted of three parts: the first part is consisting of the demographic data, and the second part was divided into two sections a) the first is consisting of 13 items, which is: the degree of adoption of social media platforms by private school principals during school crises, b) the second section was a question about the most prominent social platforms on which private school principals depend on during school crises.

Results:
1) All axis items were high, with its weighted averages ranging from (3.70 to 4.90) and a standard deviation ranging from (0.73 to 1.01), on adoption of social platforms by private school principals.
2) The social platforms most utilized by social platforms on which private school principals depend on during school crisis, were WhatsApp by more than (78%), followed by Instagram by (46.4%), followed by Twitter by (17.8%). While the least used was Facebook by (10.7 %).

Conclusions:
The widespread adoption of WhatsApp suggests its effectiveness as a direct and immediate communication tool, which is particularly valuable in the context of private schools where timely updates and swift responses are crucial. Instagram's popularity, with its visual and interactive nature, offers schools an opportunity to engage students, parents, and staff more effectively. Twitter, although less commonly used, serves as a valuable channel for brief, real-time updates and notifications. Conversely, Facebook, while still relevant, has seen a decline in usage, potentially due to changing preferences for more specialized and immediate platforms. Private schools should consider these statistics in shaping their crisis management strategies. WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, while all valuable, should be leveraged according to their strengths and the preferences of the school community. A comprehensive approach, integrating multiple platforms to cater to different communication needs, can enhance crisis response and regular school communication.

Keywords:

Social media, crisis, private schools, education, Kuwait.