It is often said that social media is detrimental to local social communities as many people flock to online spaces based on interest or social group. As a consequence, people may be less inclined to talk to their neighbours, venture outside in their neigbourhood, and in general participate less in their local community. This may lead to a decline in social cohesion and sense of community. However, social media may also positively affect local community involvement. Several social media applications and uses exist specifically for local community interaction. People may actively communicate with their local community members such as via WhatsApp neighbourhood groups, or they may use local social media passively, by following or participating in local Facebook groups or specific neighborhood apps such as Nextdoor. We pose that participation in these local social media may increase bridging and bonding social capital in the local community. This, in turn, may restore sense of community and community identity. A survey among 1852 Dutch and Italian participants indeed showed that both passive and active local social media use affect bridging and bonding social capital. Bridging and bonding social capital, in turn affect people's sense of community and community identity. Active social media use affects bridging and bonding to a larger extent than more passive social media use. The effects of social media use on bridging and bonding social capital were stronger for people who experience local community loss. That is, people who feel that their local community affords few physical spaces for local community interaction may restore their sense of community through the use of local social media.