Surviving the Buffalo Blizzard: Online Interactions, Mutual Assistance, and the Power of Weak Ties
In the past, we have written about how the information and communication technologies could expand human dynamics from a pure physical space to a relational and cyber context. One finding we have noticed is the inseparable nature of human dynamics in the physical-digital "phygital" context. In a recent publication, with Lucie Laurian , Andrew Crooks and Emmanuel Frimpong Boamah , we explored how online interactions can foster voluntary mutual assistance during the Buffalo blizzard—and how these digital connections can translate into greater resilience in the physical world. The key findings include: 🔗 Brokers & weak ties : Online platforms created networks of weak ties that connected otherwise disconnected communities, expanding the flow of information and resources. 🤝 Online mutual assistance : Through social media conversations, people requested and offered practical, informational, and emotional support—including assistance that proved critical during the...