Crisis Communication About the Maui Wildfires on TikTok: Content Analysis of Engagement With Maui Wildfire-Related Posts Over 1 Year.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The August 2023 wildfire in the town of Lāhainā on the island of Maui in Hawai'i caused catastrophic damage, affecting thousands of residents, and killing 102 people. Social media platforms, particularly TikTok, have become essential tools for crisis communication during disasters, providing real-time crisis updates, mobilizing relief efforts, and addressing misinformation. Understanding how disaster-related content is disseminated and engaged with on these platforms can inform strategies for improving emergency communication and community resilience.

Objective

Guided by Social-Mediated Crisis Communication theory, this study examined TikTok posts related to the Maui wildfires to assess content themes, public engagement, and the effectiveness of social media in di

SUBMITTER: Stimpson JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11895724 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature