ItemArticle

Digital Bridges: Harnessing Social Media for Social and Cultural Unity in Disaster Recovery

Title
Digital Bridges: Harnessing Social Media for Social and Cultural Unity in Disaster Recovery
Creator
Thangam, Dhanabalan; Shinde, Pradeep Kumar; Muniyanayaka, Devarajanayaka Kalenahalli; Subramanian, Mathiraj; Ananthan, Sriram; Manickam, Thirupathi; Sathis Kumar, G.
Description
This manuscript investigates the role of social media as digital bridges which link individuals, groups, and organizations within a?community in post-disaster recoveries. By synthesizing research from disaster studies, social capital theory, and digital communication literature, the paper draws on empirical evidence on social media supporting situational awareness, community mobilization, digital storytelling, and cross-cultural?solidarity. Simultaneously, it also?examines the problems of fake news, social media apartheid, surveillance dystopia, and the fleeting nature of online solidarity. Instead of a general literature review, the article provides an integrative conceptual synthesis that?connects theory to policy and practice. It concludes with concrete suggestions for policymakers, platform designers, and recovery specialists who want to leverage social media's connecting?power while reducing its separating dangers. 2026 Policy Studies Organization.
Source
Journal of Critical Infrastructure Policy;Volume;7;Issue;1;Article No.;e70022;
Date
01-01-2026
Publisher
John Wiley and Sons Inc
Subject
cultural unity; digital bridge; disaster recovery; social cohesion; social media
Coverage
Thangam D., Presidency Business School, Presidency College, Bengaluru, India; Shinde P.K., Department of Commerce, Presidency College, Bengaluru, India; Muniyanayaka D.K., College of Business, University of Buraimi, Al Buraimi, Oman; Subramanian M., Department of Corporate Secretaryship, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, India; Ananthan S., Department of Business Management, Yorkville University, New Westminster, Canada; Manickam T., Department of Professional Studies, Christ (Deemed to be) University, Bangalore, India; Sathis Kumar G., School of Social Sciences and Languages, Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai, India
Rights
All Open Access; Gold Open Access
Relation
ISSN: 26933101;
Format
online
Language
English
Type
Article

Citation

Thangam, Dhanabalan; Shinde, Pradeep Kumar; Muniyanayaka, Devarajanayaka Kalenahalli; Subramanian, Mathiraj; Ananthan, Sriram; Manickam, Thirupathi; Sathis Kumar, G., “Digital Bridges: Harnessing Social Media for Social and Cultural Unity in Disaster Recovery,” CHRIST (Deemed To Be University) Institutional Repository, accessed June 19, 2026, https://archives.christuniversity.in/items/show/21782.

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