A post on Instagram or a tweet can lead to an unending argument in this digital era. Social Media has reshaped our way of thinking, perceptions and actions to an extent where we tend to understand things more clearly through hashtags, reels, live-streamed protests and polls instead of their real time identities. This has turned perceptions actually bigger than reality.

Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and TikTok are such social platforms which are not only being used for the entertainment purpose only but are also used for the education and awareness of the people for any specific cause. Climate change is such an umbrella under which our globe is trying to survive.

 Environmental advocacy has renewed by digital activism. Data, fact and figures, stories and plans of actions which were only limited to the policy meetings and scientific papers are now accessible to the users, through hashtags like, #globalwarming, #Cilmatechange, #Actonclimate etc.

For instance, Instagram has noticed 1,300% growth in posts tagged with #climatecrises during the COP26, which actually highlights the strength of social media to deliver the awareness about the global affairs to the ordinary people of the world. 

Social media has successfully contributed to humanize the climate issues, with its videos showing glaciers melting, wildfires, communities affected by the sea level risings and land sliding. This content creates the emotional response in users, additionally it makes the thins more relatable to understand. 

TikTok has made this thing more publicized by making short videos, in which short and related terms are explained and common people are able to understand the climate issue on a broader spectrum. Social media promotes the collaborations. Public movement and NGOs tend to arrange the protests and run the fundraisings campaigns. 

Greta Thunberg who is known for the global youth climate movement, has used the social media platforms to convey her massages regarding environment. To convert complicated data into easy material, social media campaigns were planned by the prominent international organizations like United Nations and Greenspace, except individual influencers.

In 2021, Extinction Rebellion arranged the global protests on Facebook and Twitter to draw the attention of people towards the solution of climate issues. Besides this, YouTube also organized the webinars and discussions with the policymakers and scientists, this action plays the role of bridge among the people, policymakers and scientists. 

Videos showing the after affects and side effects of deforestation, are being shared on broader spectrum, so the users cannot oversee or ignore the climate issue. According to the Pew Research Center report, 67 % of the adults who are under 30 years, gather the major chunk of their information through social media. This data portrays the ability and role of social media to educate and aware youth for the climate change. 

Though, the role of social media is not limited to the awareness, its platforms are also for the concrete actions. The immediate connectivity of social media platforms has great impact on the fund raising campaigns for the reforestation and natural disaster management projects. Here are some successful campaigns like, #breakfreefromplastic, #FridaysforFuture, #Naturenow, #OurPlanet, #StopAdani, #ClimateStrike, #EarthHour, #TrashTagChallenge and #TeamTrees, which strengthen their messages, engage international audiences and did the noticeable real life actions by using the digital platforms against the fight of climate change. One of the leading campaigns, #TeamTrees gathered the fund of $20million to plant 20 million trees. The success of this campaign shows how likes, followings and shares of digital engagements participates in showing the practical and tangible consequences. 

However, on the other hand these digital activities are not flawless. Users who are engaged in doom scrolling and do not take part in any activity can make the online campaigns weak. One like, share or retweet can make a difference in progress and can show support to these efforts. Yet challenges are there like the spread of misinformation on digital media.

 Social Media platforms has to take the charge of the authenticity of the information and data. Moreover, the public awareness is essential in this context. One trending hashtag can be the center of attention but without long term planning and management, its impact would not be that much fruitful. Despite all challenges, social media has its great influence specially on youth. We can use this for the solving of climate crises in the longer and practical run by making the digital revolution policies.