ERIC Number: EJ1454984
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024-Dec
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2037-0830
EISSN: EISSN-2037-0849
Fostering Sustainable Behavior through Informal Education on Social Media: The Role of Instagram in Shaping Student Lifestyles
Annika Bush; Maike Löns
Research on Education and Media, v16 n2 2024
In today's digital society, the quest for sustainable development requires a paradigm shift in policy making, education, and individual lifestyle choices. This study explores the impact of informal education through communication technologies, with a specific focus on the social media network Instagram, to promote education for sustainable development and resulting sustainable behaviors. Based on the understanding that informal learning plays a crucial role in shaping individual attitudes and behaviors, our research seeks to uncover how students learn about sustainability in a less structured, more spontaneous manner through social media. Using a semi-structured interview methodology, the study examines the impact of sustainability education on Instagram and its role in shaping sustainable lifestyles among student users. The findings highlight the importance of emotional connection to the learning content and the relevance of the topics to everyday life. Having role models and practical tips seems to be crucial not only for learning about sustainability, but also for promoting sustainable behavior. With its various format options and different content creators, Instagram seems to be an ideal medium to raise awareness about sustainability and encourage users to take concrete sustainable actions.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, College Students, Sustainable Development, Social Media, Computer Mediated Communication, Student Behavior, Learner Engagement, Informal Education, Life Style, Educational Policy, Student Attitudes, Authentic Learning
Sciendo, a company of De Gruyter Poland. 32 Zuga Street, 01-811 Warsaw, Poland. Tel: +48-22-701-5015; e-mail: info@sciendo.com; Web site: https://www.sciendo.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Germany
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A