Climate Conversations on Social Media: Navigating Authority and Information Gaps Among Adolescents

Adolescents face cognitive dissonance when confronted with conflicting climate change messages from authority figures and social media. This study examines how high school students navigate challenging information landscapes, focusing on their use of social media to fill knowledge gaps left by traditional education and community discussions.

Through digital ethnography, this research maps online peer education networks to understand how teenagers engage with climate change narratives. It explores misconceptions within digital spaces and emotional responses to conflicting information. By examining specific online communities—including climate information seekers, teenage climate deniers, and peer educators—the research provides nuanced views of today's adolescent climate discourse.

The study investigates broader societal/cultural factors contributing to disconnects between authoritative narratives and grassroots peer education. This includes analyzing how parents, religious leaders, teachers, and local politicians may downplay or deny climate change, influencing adolescents' perceptions. It also examines media literacy, political polarization's impact on climate change views, and local environmental conditions' effect on youth engagement with climate issues. The research considers how socioeconomic factors/technology access affect students' ability to engage with online climate information.

Findings will inform the development of targeted educational curricula/online resources to address knowledge gaps and misunderstandings, fostering more comprehensive understandings of climate issues among youth. The research explores innovative ways to leverage social media as tools for climate education, transforming potential misinformation sources into vehicles for accurate, engaging climate knowledge.

Ultimately, this research aims to empower adolescents with critical thinking skills to navigate climate discourse effectively. By bridging divides between authoritative and grassroots narratives, the study equips young people to become informed environmental advocates. This approach enhances individual understanding and has the potential to catalyze broader societal engagement with climate change issues. The study's outcomes will provide valuable insights for educators, policymakers, and climate communicators seeking to engage effectively with younger generations on climate issues.