Explaining Observed Differences in the Location and Level of Engagement of Online Covid-19 Mutual Aid Groups

In this paper we evaluate the extent to which measures traditionally associated with social capital, as well as a range of other socio-economic factors are correlated with the existence, level of public engagement and level of activity of local online mutual aid groups during the first waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. We do so by merging data on the geographic distribution of more than 4000 public COVID-19 online mutual aid groups in the UK with information about the number of group members, the level of activity and main topics in the groups’ description, as well as an array of social, economic, political and health indicators measured at the level of the local authorities within which the groups operate. Results show that geographical correlations and rural-urban divisions explain some of the observed variation between local authority areas, but economic and political factors seem to play a more important role. Highest levels of digital mutual aid group presence were observed in local authorities that were socio-economically better off, and which were less affected by the pandemic. Online mutual aid group activity was also positively associates with higher general levels of social trust but lower levels of trust in Westminster.