Social network platforms and climate change in China: Evidence from TikTok

Abstract

The actions and policies enacted by today's youth hold profound implications for future generations, underscoring their pivotal role in advocating for climate issues. Younger cohorts exhibit heightened concern regarding climate change and are highly visible on social media platforms. Hence, this study aims to delineate the portrayal of climate-related news and disasters on TikTok. The research draws upon fifty TikTok accounts focused on climate-related content. Employing social network analysis, PageRank, and Superedge Rank methodologies, this investigation evaluates how TikTok users—called TikTokers—address climate change and its impact on social media. The assessment scrutinizes climate-related news, disasters, and the resultant networks to gauge the influence wielded by social influencers in disseminating messages. Results reveal that among the four key entities—internet influencers, government, scientists, and producers—internet influencers exert the most substantial influence on climate change news dissemination on TikTok, while the government plays an influential role in climate disasters. Like other social media platforms, TikTok is a valuable arena for gauging public sentiment on critical health concerns like global warming. Nonetheless, ensuring the reliability and depth of messages shared on TikTok necessitates the presence of credible experts who can deliver comprehensive and scientifically sound information within the platform's time constraints.