Funny or Forecast? Reactions to Government Weather Alerts on Social Media

This research examines how humor in government-issued weather advisories affects perception, engagement, and trust among teachers, parents, and students in Antipolo City during meteorological disasters. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, the study gathered insights from 21 participants via interviews, focus groups, and analysis of social media content. Thematic analysis identified four main themes: the credibility of government communications, humor as a coping strategy, the fine line between engagement and misinformation, and variations in how stakeholders understand humor. While humor fostered social bonding and emotional relief and heightened students’ attention and online sharing, trust in government communications depended more on accuracy, timeliness, consistency, and transparency. Humor’s benefits included emotional resilience and engagement, but it risked misinterpretation if not contextualized. Teachers prioritized accuracy and verification; parents, actionable safety advice; and students, relatability and shareability. These differences highlight the need for targeted strategies in disaster communications—balancing clarity, urgency, and credibility—while using humor for emotional support. Recommendations call for developing truthful yet engaging messages to improve preparedness and public confidence.