Using Social Media During an Earthquake: The Case of Ahbap

The study explores how humanitarian organizations use social media in disaster response. Drawing on a case study approach, this work analyzes 1577 X messages (formerly Twitter) of Ahbap, a prominent grassroots organization in Türkiye, during and after the Türkiye earthquake on February 6, 2023. The thematic analysis contributes to disaster management literature by documenting how social media shaped a humanitarian organization's communication activities around disaster recovery. Results indicate that X messages fall into one of the nine distinct categories: Coordination and Updates, Gratitude and Recognition, Problem-Solving and Initiatives, Calls to Action, Emotional Appeals, Transparency and Accountability, Community Engagement and Support, International Collaboration, and Future Plans and Ongoing Projects. The findings further offer actionable insights for managers of humanitarian organizations regarding using social media in disaster response.