Climate change is often found to be a controversial topic; one where opposing positions argue. Through the rise of social media as the mainstream communication method used by the public to obtain information about critical issues, arguments on social media about climate change have overtaken the conversation. Given the changing climate has been identified as one of the most critical global issues of our time that must be addressed, our lab explored how people are conversing about climate change on Twitter (the social media channel most predominantly used in the U.S. to obtain news).
Our findings indicated discussion initiated by politicians and/or those emerging from an event were most likely to catalyze conversation; with that conversation being argumentative in nature. In essence, many are using climate change to elicit reactions rather than discussion. Given argumentation theory indicates ignorance ignores concrete proof, the sociopolitical lens requires more research into how political ideologies and geographic location impact how we converse, and ultimately learn and create opinions, about climate change.
Kennedy Mayfield-Smith, recent MAEE graduate from ALEC and member of the Lamm Lab, explored public perceptions and conversations about climate change extensively for her thesis research. Check out our full manuscript from that thesis published in the Journal of Applied Communications at: https://newprairiepress.org/jac/vol105/iss4/1/
