Abstract

Puerto Rico has belonged to the United States for more than a century. In 1898, more than two decades after the Spanish American War, Spain formally ceded the island to the United States. Just over 20 years later, islanders officially became American citizens. Since then, the 100-mile-long by 35-mile-wide island has experienced economic and political crises, the COVID-19 pandemic, and life-threatening natural disasters. These events provoked a vast fluctuation in its population. After Hurricane Maria unfolded in September 2017, more than 200,000 Puerto Ricans moved to the continental United States to start new lives (Schwartz, 2018). This qualitative study sheds light on social media's role in the post-Hurricane Maria Puerto Rican diaspora's decision to migrate to the continental United States through the lens of cultivation analysis theory. Findings indicate that exposure to social media magnifies diasporic perceptions of being sufficiently informed, enables them to virtually connect with people from the same experience, and influences their decisions to leave and not return to the island.

Degree

College and Department

Fine Arts and Communications; Communications

Rights

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