Social media in climate change communication: State of the field, new developments and the emergence of generative AI

Social media have transformed climate change communication and become central for sharing information, facilitating dialogue, and driving mobilization. Accordingly, research on the topic has grown. The article discusses recent yet under-researched developments regarding social media in climate change communication: from their detrimental impact on climate journalism, the pros and cons of the short-video revolution and the emergence of “dark platforms” over climate-related initiatives by social media and the role of influencers to new forms of individual engagement. It concludes with reflections on the role of generative AI in climate change communication.