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

ABSTRACT 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.