Studies indicate that younger adults are more likely to engage with climate change content on social platforms, highlighting the importance of accessibility to accurate and engaging climate information.
Climate Diet, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental education and advocacy, emphasizes the pivotal role of social media platforms, particularly TikTok, in educating young people about climate justice issues. With over a billion users, TikTok has become a prime destination for youth dialogue on environment and sustainability topics.
However, recent threats of a TikTok ban in the U.S. and the removal of fact-checking services from platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Meta pose significant risks to the accessibility of credible climate-related content. These developments could hinder young people's ability to stay informed and engaged on pressing environmental and humanitarian issues. According to reports, TikTok has served as a vital platform for grassroots environmental movements, enabling young activists to share knowledge, organize campaigns, and mobilize global audiences to take action. The potential loss of such a tool would limit exposure to scientifically backed climate information and reduce opportunities for collective action.
“The removal of fact-checking tools from major social media platforms further exacerbates the challenge of combating climate misinformation,” said Jane DeMarines, Executive Director of Climate Diet. “Without these safeguards, misinformation can spread unchecked, leading to confusion and disengagement among youth, who are already navigating an overwhelming amount of online content.”
Climate Diet stresses that ensuring continued access to reliable and fact-checked information is essential for empowering young people to take informed action in the fight against climate change.
Climate Diet is committed to leveraging social media platforms to advance climate literacy and inspire meaningful action among young people. By providing access to credible climate information and elevating the voices of climate advocates, we aim to cultivate a generation of environmental stewards ready to tackle the pressing challenges of the climate crisis.
###
ABOUT CLIMATE DIET
Climate Diet is a Maryland-based nonprofit that aims to shed light on a critical, yet often-overlooked climate change culprit — animal agriculture. Recognized as the second-largest producer of human-made greenhouse gas emissions, animal farming is also the leading cause of deforestation, pollution, biodiversity loss, and soil erosion.
Climate Diet is a Maryland-based nonprofit that aims to shed light on a critical, yet often-overlooked climate change culprit — animal agriculture. Recognized as the second-largest producer of human-made greenhouse gas emissions, animal farming is also the leading cause of deforestation, pollution, biodiversity loss, and soil erosion.
