The Role of Social Media in Shaping Community Resilience During the California Wildfires of 2025

• In Event: Open Refereed Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 8: Social Movements and Collective Action

Abstract

The 2025 California wildfires in Los Angeles were among the most devastating wildfires driven by climate change and strong Santa Ana winds. As the fires spread, people not only turned to firefighters, but they also turned to their phones. Social media became a crucial space where communities sought information, expressed emotions, and coordinated support. Yet these same platforms also spread rumors and fueled mistrust. This qualitative study examines how social media shaped community resilience during the 2025 wildfires through thematic analysis from Twitter content and interviews with key informants, including firefighters. Using the resilience theory and the concept of convergence behavior, this research brings a classic sociological insight of people rushing toward disaster scenes into the digital age as ‘Digital Convergence.’ The initial findings from 100 Twitter posts and two firefighter interviews show that digital convergence fostered solidarity by connecting neighbors, circulating offers of shelter, and amplifying community pride. At the same time, misinformation about evacuation zones or elite resource hoarding quickly spread, overwhelming responders and undermining trust in institutions. The contribution of this study lies in demonstrating how digital convergence simultaneously reinforces and undermines community resilience. It advances an understanding of resilience as a dynamic process shaped not only by social bonds and institutional trust but also by the clarity and quality of digital communication. By situating everyday digital practices within the sociology of disaster, the study underscores both potential benefits and the inherent risk of social media use during crisis events.

Author

• Fariha Faruk, Oklahoma State University