Social Media as a Pedagogical Catalyst in Fostering Environmental Awareness: A Theoretical Perspective

In the present Tech age, social media has emerged as a powerful platform influencing learning processes. This paper presents a theoretical exploration of social media as a pedagogical catalyst in fostering environmental awareness. Moving beyond the concept of social media as merely a communication tool, this study considers social media as a dynamic educational infrastructure that mediates environmental learning through constructivist interaction, transformative reflection, and social learning processes. The framework proposes that digital engagement shapes cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions of environmental awareness, contributing to ecological citizenship and responsible environmental action. Furthermore, the study supports integration of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) to enrich the ethical and cultural grounding of digital environmental pedagogy. The paper identifies moderating variables such as digital literacy, media literacy, psychological well-being, and institutional support, which influence the depth of environmental learning.

Social Media, Environmental Awareness

1. Chen, M., & Xiao, X. (2022). The effect of social media on the development of students’ affective variables. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, Article 1010766. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1010766 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Gupta, U. (2023). Effect of social media platforms on environmental awareness on B.Ed. interns. International Research Journal of Management Sociology & Humanity, 14(5), 52–60. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Hajri, O., & Daife, Y. (2024). The role of social media in engaging young people in environmental issues. E3S Web of Conferences, 477, 00079. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202447700079 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Hamid, S., Sulaiman, H., Ijab, M., Anwar, R., & Normona. (2017). Social media for environmental sustainability awareness in higher education. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 18(4), 474–491. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-01-2015-0010 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Kaur, A., & Chahal, H. S. (2018). Role of social media in increasing environmental issue awareness. Research World Journal of Arts, Science & Commerce, 9(1), 19–27. https://doi.org/10.18843/rwjasc/v9i1/03 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Krätzig, S., & Warren-Kretzschmar, B. (2014). Using interactive web tools in environmental planning to improve communication about sustainable development. Sustainability, 6(1), 236–250. https://doi.org/10.3390/su6010236 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Lovochkina, A., Otych, D., & Spivak, L. (2023). Formation of students' environmental awareness through social media. Conhecimento & Diversidade, 15(36), 556–569. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Melville, N. P. (2010). Information systems innovation for environmental sustainability. MIS Quarterly, 34(1), 1–21. https://www.jstor.org/stable/207214128 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Simionescu, M., Horváthová, Z., Kovshun, N., & Kushnir, N. (2020). Social media, sustainability, and environmental protection in sustainable education. E3S Web of Conferences, 208, 09002. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202020809002 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Sinha, A., & Padhy, M. K. (2022). Role of social media in creating environmental awareness in Lucknow. Shodh Samagam, 5(1), 263–269. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Syarifuddin, M., Nurmidi, M., & Sholeh, M. K. (2024). The role of social media in increasing public awareness of environmental issues. International Journal of Education and Sosiotechnology (IJES), 4(1), 20–25. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Tlebere, T., Scholtz, B., & Calitz, A. P. (2015). Using social media to improve environmental awareness in higher education institutions. In IT in Environmental Engineering: Proceedings of the 7th International Conference (pp. 1–13). Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Social Media and Ghanaian Youth: A Systematic Review of Impacts and Implications
• Social Media Trends and Public Opinion Dynamics in Port Harcourt
• The Impact of Social Media Information in Checkmating Social Injustice and Bad Governance in Nigeria
• The Impact of Image-Based Brand Content on Moroccan Consumers Engagement on Social Media
• Qur’anic Character Model in Enhancing the Quality of Job Satisfaction among the Civil Servants