THE EMERGENCE OF DIGITAL HUMANITARIAN ACTIONS: THE CASE OF ‘VRATIMO PALČIĆE U PETROVU’ FACEBOOK GROUP

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected interpersonal relationships globally. Furthermore, in 2020, Croatia was hit by devastating earthquakes that triggered a series of humanitarian actions. This paper deals with the ‘Let’s bring the premature babies back to Petrova hospital’ Facebook group and its auctioning model. The auctions were created through cooperation of the Facebook group members and, as such, have not been described in scientific literature. The aim of this paper is to understand what the case can tell us about cooperation in the digital environment and its role in creating digital humanitarian actions. Using a mixed-methods approach, the authors analyze posts published by Facebook group members and interviews conducted with organizers to explain the phenomenon of strengthening the existing connections among participants and undertaking a collective action. This case indicates that digital activism does not necessarily result in pure slacktivism. In point of fact, transparent participation of community members, along with a transparent model, can have tangible effects on society through successful humanitarian actions.