A new survey publicized by the Pew Research Center has indicated that newer generations of social media users, such as Gen Z and Millennial adults, are more likely to engage with climate change content, compared to older generations, like Baby Boomers.
In the survey, as many as 56 percent, or the majority of respondents, were identified as part of Gen Z and had viewed content on global climate change a few weeks prior to their participation. This was compared to 44 percent by older generations.
As many 45 percent who engaged in climate change content on social networking sites were also Gen Z, compared to 21 percent who identified as being a Baby Boomer.
“Gen Z and Millennial social media users are more likely than older generations online to engage with climate change content on social media and to express a range of emotions when they see climate-related content there – including anxiety about the future and anger that not enough is being done,” the Pew authors wrote in their report.
“Among U.S. social media users, 45% of Gen Z adults and 40% of Millennials have interacted with content on social platforms that focuses on the need for action on climate change by following an account, liking or commenting on a post, or posting or sharing content about the need for action on climate change,” the survey also determined.
“By contrast, much smaller shares of Gen X (27%) and Baby Boomer and older social media users (21%) have engaged with content about climate change in any of these ways.”
Cary Lynne Thigpen and Alec Tyson authored the survey.
