Have you ever thought about how the use of social media affects the environment? Market research company Compare the Market offers a tool to calculate carbon emissions for social networking platforms.
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According to the company’s analysis, we contribute to the climate crisis by using social media. Every time we enter our calculations, the energy generated by fossil fuels is used, and the greenhouse gas emissions that occur throughout the year also warm the atmosphere.
While social media itself isn’t harming the planet, the research points out that countries should phase out fossil fuels and world leaders should invest in renewable energy.
How do social networks affect the environment?
The analysis results of the 10 most popular social media platforms are remarkable. Using Tiktok causes 2.63 g CO2 emissions per minute, Reddit 2.45 g CO2 emissions, YouTube usage causes 0.46 g CO2 emissions. Tiktok is #1 in carbon emissions. Spending just 5 minutes on the platform leaves a carbon footprint of 13 g per day and 4.8 g per year.
According to Mifsud, general manager of the energy division of Compare the Market, using each of the 10 platforms for five minutes each day generates 20 kg of carbon per year.