Mapping the Climate Change Landscape on TikTok

Alessia  Galdeman; Luca Maria Aiello

doi:10.1609/icwsm.v19i1.35962

Mapping the Climate Change Landscape on TikTok

Research output: Conference Article in Proceeding or Book/Report chapter › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Social media platforms shape climate action discourse. Mapping these online conversations is essential for effective communication strategies. TikTok’s climate discussions are particularly relevant given its young, climate-concerned audience. In this work, we collect the first TikTok dataset on climate topics. We collected 590K videos from 14K creators along with their follower networks. By applying topic modeling to the video descriptions, we map the topics discussed on the platform on a climate taxonomy that we construct by consolidating existing categorizations. Results show TikTok creators primarily approach climate through the angle of lifestyle and dietary choices. By examining semantic connections between topics, we identified non-climate” gateway” topics that could draw new audiences into climate discussions.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media
Number of pages	8
Volume	19
Publisher	AAAI Press
Publication date	7 Jun 2025
Pages	2614-2621
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1609/icwsm.v19i1.35962
Publication status	Published - 7 Jun 2025
Event	International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media - Copenhagen, Denmark Duration: 23 Jun 2025 → 26 Jun 2025 Conference number: 19 https://ojs.aaai.org/index.php/ICWSM/index

Conference

Conference	International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media
Number	19
Country/Territory	Denmark
City	Copenhagen
Period	23/06/2025 → 26/06/2025
Internet address	https://ojs.aaai.org/index.php/ICWSM/index

Keywords

TikTok climate discourse
climate communication
social media analytics
topic modeling
climate taxonomy

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10.1609/icwsm.v19i1.35962

35962-Article Text-40030-1-2-20250607Final published version, 1.76 MB

https://doi.org/10.1609/icwsm.v19i1.35962

Cite this

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title = "Mapping the Climate Change Landscape on TikTok",

abstract = "Social media platforms shape climate action discourse. Mapping these online conversations is essential for effective communication strategies. TikTok{\textquoteright}s climate discussions are particularly relevant given its young, climate-concerned audience. In this work, we collect the first TikTok dataset on climate topics. We collected 590K videos from 14K creators along with their follower networks. By applying topic modeling to the video descriptions, we map the topics discussed on the platform on a climate taxonomy that we construct by consolidating existing categorizations. Results show TikTok creators primarily approach climate through the angle of lifestyle and dietary choices. By examining semantic connections between topics, we identified non-climate” gateway” topics that could draw new audiences into climate discussions.",

keywords = "TikTok climate discourse, climate communication, social media analytics, topic modeling, climate taxonomy",

author = "Alessia Galdeman and Aiello, \{Luca Maria\}",

note = "Galdeman A, Aiello LM. Mapping the Climate Change Landscape on TikTok. InProceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media 2025 Jun 7 (Vol. 19, pp. 2614-2621).; International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media , ICWSM ; Conference date: 23-06-2025 Through 26-06-2025",

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day = "7",

doi = "10.1609/icwsm.v19i1.35962",

language = "English",

volume = "19",

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booktitle = "Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media",

publisher = "AAAI Press",

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TY - GEN

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AU - Galdeman, Alessia

AU - Aiello, Luca Maria

N1 - Conference code: 19

PY - 2025/6/7

Y1 - 2025/6/7

N2 - Social media platforms shape climate action discourse. Mapping these online conversations is essential for effective communication strategies. TikTok’s climate discussions are particularly relevant given its young, climate-concerned audience. In this work, we collect the first TikTok dataset on climate topics. We collected 590K videos from 14K creators along with their follower networks. By applying topic modeling to the video descriptions, we map the topics discussed on the platform on a climate taxonomy that we construct by consolidating existing categorizations. Results show TikTok creators primarily approach climate through the angle of lifestyle and dietary choices. By examining semantic connections between topics, we identified non-climate” gateway” topics that could draw new audiences into climate discussions.

AB - Social media platforms shape climate action discourse. Mapping these online conversations is essential for effective communication strategies. TikTok’s climate discussions are particularly relevant given its young, climate-concerned audience. In this work, we collect the first TikTok dataset on climate topics. We collected 590K videos from 14K creators along with their follower networks. By applying topic modeling to the video descriptions, we map the topics discussed on the platform on a climate taxonomy that we construct by consolidating existing categorizations. Results show TikTok creators primarily approach climate through the angle of lifestyle and dietary choices. By examining semantic connections between topics, we identified non-climate” gateway” topics that could draw new audiences into climate discussions.

KW - TikTok climate discourse

KW - climate communication

KW - social media analytics

KW - topic modeling

KW - climate taxonomy

U2 - 10.1609/icwsm.v19i1.35962

DO - 10.1609/icwsm.v19i1.35962

M3 - Article in proceedings

VL - 19

SP - 2614

EP - 2621

BT - Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media

PB - AAAI Press

T2 - International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media

Y2 - 23 June 2025 through 26 June 2025

ER -

Mapping the Climate Change Landscape on TikTok

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Conference

Keywords

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