In this article, we discussed the meaning of environmental impact of social media, the examples and we also talked about the impact.
Definition
The “environmental impact of social media” refers to the effects, both positive and negative, that the creation, use, and disposal of technology related to social media platforms have on the environment, encompassing energy consumption, infrastructure demands, and resource usage.
Environmental Impact of Social Media Involves:
Energy Consumption:
Social media platforms are powered by massive data centers, which consume large amounts of electricity to operate, and user devices (phones, tablets, computers) also contribute to energy consumption. Video-heavy platforms like TikTok and Snapchat tend to have a higher carbon footprint per minute of usage, as they require more infrastructure and energy to operate, than text/image-based platforms like Twitter or Facebook.
Carbon Footprint:
The carbon footprint of internet and social media technology is significant, accounting for a substantial portion of global greenhouse gas emissions, even more than the aviation industry. A report from The Shift Project estimates that the carbon footprint of gadgets accounts for 3.7% of global greenhouse emissions, which is more than the amount produced by the aviation industry.
Resource Depletion:
The manufacturing of devices, data centers, and other infrastructure used for social media involves resource extraction and consumption, contributing to environmental degradation.
E-Waste:
Social media technologies contribute to the growing e-waste problem as devices become obsolete and are discarded, potentially harming the environment through toxic material leakage if not recycled properly.
Positive Environmental Impacts:
Social media can also be used to raise awareness about environmental issues, promote sustainable practices, and facilitate citizen science and environmental monitoring.
Examples of Environmental Impacts of Social Media:
Data Centers and Energy Consumption:
Social media platforms operate massive data centers, which consume a significant amount of energy to power servers and keep them cool.
E-Waste and Consumer Electronics:
The constant cycle of smartphone upgrades and device replacements leads to a surge of electronic waste.
Carbon Footprint of Online Activities:
Activities like video streaming, uploading photos and videos, and general browsing contribute to a carbon footprint as data transmission and storage require energy, often generated by fossil fuels.
Environmental Awareness:
While social media can raise awareness of environmental issues, it also has the potential to contribute to the environmental problems, it attempts to solve.
Specific Examples:
Streaming a single hour of video on YouTube or Netflix can emit 36g of CO2.
A single selfie emits 5g of CO2.
TikTok, with its focus on short-form video, has a higher carbon footprint per minute of use compared to platforms like Twitter or Facebook.
The carbon emissions from 2.85 million Facebook users could be as much as 12g of CO2 per year.
Using TikTok for 145 minutes daily for a year results in nearly 140kg of carbon emissions, equivalent to driving a standard car over 350 miles.
Energy Consumption Ranking:
News feeds for Snapchat, Facebook, and TikTok apps tend to be energy intensive, while those for YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn are more efficient.
TikTok’s news feed consumes 1.8 times more power than YouTube’s.
Sustainable Practices:
Some social media companies are taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint and promote sustainability.
The Environmental Impact of social media includes the following:
Energy Consumption:
Every social media activity, from posting to streaming, relies on vast digital infrastructure powered by data centers and servers.
These systems require massive amounts of electricity, much of which is still generated from carbon-intensive sources like fossil fuels.
Some platforms, like those that prioritize video content (TikTok, Snapchat), have significantly higher energy demands compared to those focused on text and images (Twitter, Facebook).
Carbon Footprint:
Research indicates that scrolling on TikTok contributes the most in terms of carbon emissions, followed by Reddit, Pinterest, Instagram, and Snapchat.
The annual carbon footprint of digital content consumption, including web surfing, social media, video, and streaming, is estimated to emit 229 kg CO2-eq year−1.
This accounts for roughly 3-4% of per capita anthropogenic GHG emissions (around 6.0-7.6 tonnes CO2-eq year−1 in 2019).
The environmental impact can vary substantially depending on the carbon intensity of the electricity used to power devices, ranging from 146 kg CO2-eq year−1 in Norway (hydropower-based electricity mix) to 327 kg CO2-eq year−1 in India (fossil fuel-based electricity mix).
E-waste:
The constant cycle of upgrading smartphones and devices contributes to electronic waste, which is a significant source of pollution.
An estimated 50 million tons of electronic waste is discarded in landfills each year, where lead and toxic chemicals from discarded devices pollute the soil and contaminate water.
User Impact:
Every click, like, and post contributes to the overall carbon footprint of social media, highlighting the collective impact of user behavior.
The amount of time spent on social media platforms also plays a role, with users spending significant time online leading to greater energy consumption.
Conclusion
Social media has a dual environmental impact: it raises awareness about climate change and allows for quick engagement, but its infrastructure and user behavior (data centers and electronics) contribute to a significant carbon footprint and electronic waste.
READ: Environmental Impact of Tech