San Antonio Facebook Group: Gossip Platform With 224,000 Members

A Facebook group in San Antonio, Texas, has gathered more than 224,000 followers. The platform, known as 210 La Chismosa, started as a casual video but now serves as a primary channel for community aid. Creator Cecilia Chavez describes the group as a tool for sharing information and helping people in crisis.

Chavez launched the online presence during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. She recorded a Zoom call with her mother and aunt where they discussed local news. The video gained rapid traction on social media, transforming a private family conversation into a public hub for discussion. She noted that social media use spiked during the pandemic, which fueled the group's early growth.

The group now requires constant management. Chavez stated that she wakes up to the platform and goes to sleep with it. The community has recently assisted residents affected by flooding on the Southwest Side of San Antonio. Chavez aims to open a physical community resource center in the future to support the online network with tangible services.

Personal loss has driven Chavez's commitment to the project. Her son, Jose, died in a motorcycle crash in 2024. She explained that the platform filled an emotional void after his death. She said, "It filled a void. It did. It definitely did," adding that she wants to be there for people during difficult times.

Chavez grew up on the South and West sides of San Antonio. She contracted measles as a child, which resulted in hearing loss in one ear. Her family later moved to a Native American reservation in Nevada due to a dispute over her son's high school football eligibility. Her sons eventually played football in Nevada, and one earned a scholarship.

She recently appeared on Pickup Lines, a digital talk show hosted by KSAT reporter Ernie Zuniga. The show features guests who share their personal journeys. Chavez values her independence and has declined sponsorship offers to maintain control over the group. She views her role as a chismosa, or gossip teller, as a way to make a concrete difference in her community.