The Impact of Social Media on Disaster Volunteerism: Evidence from Hurricane Harvey

Emergent volunteer groups play a significant role during disasters. There is a rich literature on the role of volunteer groups in disasters and disaster volunteerism. However, the rapid proliferation of social media platforms in the last decade made a significant impact on human lives, and disaster volunteerism is no exception. This article argues that there is a need for understanding social media’s impact on disaster volunteerism. Using Harvey as a case, this article analyzes 74 Facebook groups that were created during the storm. The article compares the emergence and lifespan, structure, and function of online volunteer groups to those of volunteer groups before social media. Findings show important distinctions between online groups and those mentioned in the literature. First, online groups are easier to observe and analyze because of the digital traces they leave. Online groups emerge in different phases of disaster (response, early recovery) depending on people’s needs. Their structure can possess elements of hierarchy as opposed to structural characteristics of groups mentioned in the literature. Finally, online groups mostly function as information sharing hubs; however, they also carry out a wide variety of functions, some of which request special attention. The article makes suggestions for future research.