Drivers of global civil repair

Social media users witnessing distant suffering in the aftermath of the 2017 Mexico City earthquake

Bibliographic Data

ID7473203
AuthorsGabriela Vigil (0000-0001-9795-1897, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, corresponding author), María Luengo (0000-0002-6875-9000, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid)
Year2026
Volume29
Issue1
Pages100-119
Publication date2026-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Cultural Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1367-8779 • E-ISSN: 1460-356X
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/13678779251370382
OpenAlexW4414060086
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited52

This article examines how social media users engaged in civil repair actions following the 2017 Mexico City earthquake. Drawing on cultural trauma theory, the study investigates audience responses to mediated distant suffering from three user profiles of different nationalities and locations, to analyse their cosmopolitan disposition. Through 29 interviews, we explored how users actively participated in short and long-term actions to mitigate the suffering of others and recreated cultural symbols and rituals of remembrance. Findings reveal that closeness, trust, and the role of social media platforms were crucial factors in shaping how media witnessing evolved into an affective witnessing community displaying different levels of civil engagement and facilitated collective action that transformed trauma into hope and unity

Disaster Management and Resilience · Media Studies and Communication · Public Relations and Crisis Communication