The celebrity disaster area effect: exploring the impact of social media on the distribution of humanitarian goods

Abstract Social media and public attention have resulted in an excessive concentration of humanitarian relief goods in high-exposure disaster areas and supply shortages in surrounding areas, which we refer to as a “celebrity disaster area effect”. This study uses system dynamics modeling and simulat...

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Main Authors: Yuhang Wang, Liuyue Zhang, Rui Li, Yi Lu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2025-04-01
Series:Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04722-1
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author Yuhang Wang
Liuyue Zhang
Rui Li
Yi Lu
author_facet Yuhang Wang
Liuyue Zhang
Rui Li
Yi Lu
author_sort Yuhang Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Social media and public attention have resulted in an excessive concentration of humanitarian relief goods in high-exposure disaster areas and supply shortages in surrounding areas, which we refer to as a “celebrity disaster area effect”. This study uses system dynamics modeling and simulations to explore the impact of this effect on the humanitarian supply distribution during the 2022 Luding earthquake. We establish a celebrity disaster area effect measurement model that introduces a deprivation cost concept. We found that adjusting the overall public opinion to 70% of its current level is the most effective way to mitigate the celebrity disaster area effect.
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publishDate 2025-04-01
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spelling doaj-art-bf26a2c84e764ad0ab6896c7b48b2fa72025-08-20T01:52:55ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-04-0112111510.1057/s41599-025-04722-1The celebrity disaster area effect: exploring the impact of social media on the distribution of humanitarian goodsYuhang Wang0Liuyue Zhang1Rui Li2Yi Lu3Business School, Sichuan UniversityBusiness School, Sichuan UniversityBusiness School, Sichuan UniversityInstitute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, Sichuan UniversityAbstract Social media and public attention have resulted in an excessive concentration of humanitarian relief goods in high-exposure disaster areas and supply shortages in surrounding areas, which we refer to as a “celebrity disaster area effect”. This study uses system dynamics modeling and simulations to explore the impact of this effect on the humanitarian supply distribution during the 2022 Luding earthquake. We establish a celebrity disaster area effect measurement model that introduces a deprivation cost concept. We found that adjusting the overall public opinion to 70% of its current level is the most effective way to mitigate the celebrity disaster area effect.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04722-1
spellingShingle Yuhang Wang
Liuyue Zhang
Rui Li
Yi Lu
The celebrity disaster area effect: exploring the impact of social media on the distribution of humanitarian goods
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
title The celebrity disaster area effect: exploring the impact of social media on the distribution of humanitarian goods
title_full The celebrity disaster area effect: exploring the impact of social media on the distribution of humanitarian goods
title_fullStr The celebrity disaster area effect: exploring the impact of social media on the distribution of humanitarian goods
title_full_unstemmed The celebrity disaster area effect: exploring the impact of social media on the distribution of humanitarian goods
title_short The celebrity disaster area effect: exploring the impact of social media on the distribution of humanitarian goods
title_sort celebrity disaster area effect exploring the impact of social media on the distribution of humanitarian goods
url https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04722-1
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