Event Type
Research Presentation
Academic Department
Environmental Studies
Location
Dana Science Building, 2nd floor
Start Date
25-4-2025 1:00 PM
End Date
25-4-2025 2:30 PM
Description
Media is known to be able to influence people’s opinions and attitudes on a variety to topics (Kat & Lazarsfeld, 2017), everything from their lifestyle, perspectives towards the environment, and the food to consume. To better understand the media’s influence on people’s food choices, this study explores social media and its role in young adults’ perception of their food choices. Specifically, looking at how social media influences Hollins University students’ perceptions and understanding of their diets concerning environmental awareness. Through a cross-sectional survey design administered through Microsoft Forms in Spring 2025, participants were asked about their dietary choices, social media habits, exposure to sustainability-related messages, and the influence of both online and in-person communities. Through understanding respondent perception in these areas, researchers aim to better understand how social media may contribute to environmental consciousness in everyday food decisions. Initial results indicate that respondents (N=37), who are somewhat active on social media, find their in-person communities to be a greater influence on their dietary choices when compared to online communities and influencers or brands. When examining respondents’ perceptions towards social media’s influence on food or the environment, all valid responses felt that social media influenced the public’s opinion on these topics to some degree.
Hashtags, Influencers, and Ethical Eating
Dana Science Building, 2nd floor
Media is known to be able to influence people’s opinions and attitudes on a variety to topics (Kat & Lazarsfeld, 2017), everything from their lifestyle, perspectives towards the environment, and the food to consume. To better understand the media’s influence on people’s food choices, this study explores social media and its role in young adults’ perception of their food choices. Specifically, looking at how social media influences Hollins University students’ perceptions and understanding of their diets concerning environmental awareness. Through a cross-sectional survey design administered through Microsoft Forms in Spring 2025, participants were asked about their dietary choices, social media habits, exposure to sustainability-related messages, and the influence of both online and in-person communities. Through understanding respondent perception in these areas, researchers aim to better understand how social media may contribute to environmental consciousness in everyday food decisions. Initial results indicate that respondents (N=37), who are somewhat active on social media, find their in-person communities to be a greater influence on their dietary choices when compared to online communities and influencers or brands. When examining respondents’ perceptions towards social media’s influence on food or the environment, all valid responses felt that social media influenced the public’s opinion on these topics to some degree.