It’s Earth Day, Climate Activists are Using TikTok to Fight Climate Change
Social Media provides a platform for environmental education and activism
TikTok is being used as a platform by environmental influencers to educate and inspire their followers to take action on climate change. Hazel Thayer and Sabrina Pare are among the many TikTok’ers who are using the platform to get out their message to help combat climate change.
With about 3.5 billion active social media users worldwide, it’s no surprise that influencers use their social media platforms to share content of interest – whether it’s on food, fashion, comedy or in this case, sustainability. On TikTok, environmental influencers have a unique opportunity to educate over 1 billion app users on the pressing concerns of climate change and push for them to take real action.
Meet the TikTokers educating more than 1 billion users
Hazel Thayer, who goes by @hazelisonline on TikTok aims to produce content that makes the solutions to climate change accessible and understandable. She started by posting content with a focus on environmental economics but eventually learned about policy solutions and the ways that companies are polluting the environment through usage of fossil fuels and animal agriculture, and seeks to share this with her followers.
While Thayer was always dimly aware that climate change was a problem, she figured it was a problem that the “grown-ups” would solve.
“In 2019, when I graduated university, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports started getting really dire and also when my government (Canada) declared a climate emergency yet, their actual action amounted to committing to, like, plant 2 billion trees and then buying a pipeline the very next day,” Thayer said. “That was the day I realized that I was the grown-up now, and it is now my responsibility to do something about it, because our leaders sure won’t, no matter what the scientists say.”
She encourages her followers to learn about the solutions, talk about them and then demand change by putting real pressure on elected officials and corporations, joining climate groups, phone banking and contacting their representatives.
The TikToker keeps herself informed on climate-related issues by constantly reading and subscribing to relevant newsletters. She makes an effort to ensure accuracy within her posts while also keeping it engaging and easily digestible, though she admits it can be a hard line to walk because the more detailed the videos are, the more boring they might seem. “I try to include my sources as graphics in the video so people can look into it on their own, but also keep it just general enough that anyone can grasp it,” Thayer said.
EcoTok works to combat climate change and sustainability on TikTok
Science communicator and co-founder of EcoTok – a collective of online environmental activists – Abbie Richards admits that TikTok’s ability to promote this kind of information sharing also opens the door to more misinformation, a EuroNews article relayed. “Creators pushing questionable tree planting initiatives and conspiracy theories can theoretically get the same amount of attention as an expert,” the article stated.
But TikTok is at the very least a way to get the conversation started on topics of sustainability and climate change, and members of EcoTok are putting extra effort on citing scientific sources, providing resources and teaching their followers about media literacy.
The some 18 members of EcoTok include the likes of environmental science university students, a marine conservationist, activists, environmental educators and civil servants. Together, they seek to educate their 119,000 followers on the effects of climate change and encourage followers to take tangible steps to combat it in their own ways. “Our mission is one of education and inspiration and we hope we live up to it each and every day,” said Sabrina Pare, co-founder of the group.
Pare, a wellness specialist who goes by @sabrina.sustainable.life on TikTok, focuses her content on different areas of sustainability, such as gardening, reducing food waste and sustainable swaps. Her sustainability journey began in 2017 when she decided to switch to a plant-based diet after learning of the harmful effects animal agriculture had on the environment.
“From there, my passion for reducing my environmental impact grew. I realized there are many other issues facing our environment outside of animal agriculture such as the plastic pollution crisis and fast fashion,” Pare said, adding that she started making eco-conscious changes in her everyday life and shares tips on TikTok along the way.
“My goal is to teach everyone they can make a difference when it comes to bettering our planet. Every change matters, no matter how big or small. My mission is to make sustainability accessible and attainable for everyone,” Pare said. “We are striving for progress, not perfection.”
Take time to educate yourself to effect change for Earth Day
Pare encourages her viewers to take their own time to learn more about topics they are interested in as there is only so much that can be covered in the short snippets TikTok allows. “I like to think of it as, I am planting the seeds to get them interested, but they need to take it upon themselves to dig deeper and grow their knowledge on the subject,” she said. And her followers appreciate her for the information she does share. “Many of my followers have told me that I have taught them how to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle and changed their perspective on protecting the planet,” Pare said.
Earth Day, the annual event to show support for environmental protection, will be celebrated on April 22 and Pare has big plans to commemorate it in her own way. “This Earth Day, I plan to start my day attending a local trash cleanup at Belle Isle in Detroit. Later, I am going to my local community's zero waste store who is hosting a bunch of fun activities such as an opportunity to recycle old sneakers and a composting workshop,” Pare said. “I love to take this day as a day to honor our planet and give back to it.”
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Pooja Rambaran is a freelance writer and recent journalism graduate from Toronto Metropolitan University. She’s written both news and feature articles covering topics ranging from current affairs and education to mental health and social impact, and she hopes to continue to grow as a journalist for many years to come.
Interested in more on Earth Day:
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