Social Media Public Response to Critical Infrastructure Cyber Disruptions: A Reddit Based Multi-Dimensional Sentiment Analysis

Abstract: Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure (CI) generate rapid and immediate public reactions that shape trust, risk perception, and crisis communication. Existing literature lacks an empirical evidence-based understanding of how decentralized online communities shape narratives following cyber incidents on CI. This study examines social media public response and discourse patterns to CI cyber disruptions through a reddit-based multi-dimensional sentiment analysis of Florida water-treatment-plant incident. Results from 300-relevant posts indicate that discourse is highly time-sensitive, 50%-participation and 90%-engagement occurred within six-hours, demonstrating rapid narrative formation. Findings highlight how online community signals can inform cybersecurity-communication strategies and support more transparent, trust-oriented CI protection efforts.