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SECTION A: Role of social media in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, which serve as the
foundation for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development—a shared blueprint aimed at fostering
peace and prosperity for people and the planet (United Nations, 2021). These goals are interrelated
and focus on balancing economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection (UN ESCAP,
2017). In the contemporary digital era, social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram,
TikTok, and YouTube have emerged as powerful tools for promoting and advancing the SDGs. This
discussion will focus on two specific SDGs—Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 13 (Climate
Action)—and examine how social media contributes to their realization and success.
SDG 4: Quality Education
SDG 4 seeks to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning
opportunities for all” (UNDP, 2019). It emphasizes that education is a key factor in breaking the
cycle of poverty, fostering innovation, and empowering individuals to improve their lives and
communities. The goal’s key targets include ensuring universal primary and secondary education,
providing equal access to affordable technical and vocational education, and eliminating gender
disparities in education. This SDG was selected because education is the foundational pillar upon
which many other SDGs are built. Without access to quality education, efforts to improve health,
reduce inequality, and stimulate economic growth are severely hindered. Education equips
individuals with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to create sustainable societies.
Social media platforms have revolutionized the distribution of educational resources and
opportunities across the globe. YouTube has become an open-access platform that provides learners
with free access to a vast range of educational content, from language tutorials to science
experiments. Influencers such as Nas Daily use Facebook and Instagram to create short, engaging
videos that simplify complex topics and celebrate cultural diversity, thus promoting a form of
learning that resonates with a wide audience. Additionally, TikTok has become a popular platform
for educators and students alike to share micro-lessons on subjects like history, science, and literacy,
making learning accessible, engaging, and fun, especially for younger generations.
SDG 13: Climate Action
SDG 13 urges urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts through the integration of
climate measures into national policies, boosting public education, and raising awareness (UN
ESCAP, 2017). Climate change poses significant threats to ecosystems, economies, and vulnerable
communities. Key targets of SDG 13 include improving resilience to climate-related hazards and
bolstering national plans for climate mitigation and adaptation.
Climate change is a global challenge that affects all aspects of development, from food security to
health, requiring collective global efforts to mitigate its impact. Social media has become an
essential tool in climate advocacy. Platforms such as Twitter and Instagram have amplified
movements like #FridaysForFuture, initiated by Greta Thunberg. Thunberg gained international
recognition by sharing her school strike for climate on social media, which sparked a youth-driven
global climate movement. Her social media posts have inspired millions of young people worldwide
to take part in climate action protests and demand stronger environmental policies. Organizations
such as Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) have effectively used social media to raise
awareness about issues like deforestation, wildlife extinction, and rising carbon emissions. For
instance, WWF’s #EarthHour campaign has reached millions globally through Instagram and
SECTION A: Role of social media in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, which serve as the
foundation for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development—a shared blueprint aimed at fostering
peace and prosperity for people and the planet (United Nations, 2021). These goals are interrelated
and focus on balancing economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection (UN ESCAP,
2017). In the contemporary digital era, social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram,
TikTok, and YouTube have emerged as powerful tools for promoting and advancing the SDGs. This
discussion will focus on two specific SDGs—Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 13 (Climate
Action)—and examine how social media contributes to their realization and success.
SDG 4: Quality Education
SDG 4 seeks to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning
opportunities for all” (UNDP, 2019). It emphasizes that education is a key factor in breaking the
cycle of poverty, fostering innovation, and empowering individuals to improve their lives and
communities. The goal’s key targets include ensuring universal primary and secondary education,
providing equal access to affordable technical and vocational education, and eliminating gender
disparities in education. This SDG was selected because education is the foundational pillar upon
which many other SDGs are built. Without access to quality education, efforts to improve health,
reduce inequality, and stimulate economic growth are severely hindered. Education equips
individuals with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to create sustainable societies.
Social media platforms have revolutionized the distribution of educational resources and
opportunities across the globe. YouTube has become an open-access platform that provides learners
with free access to a vast range of educational content, from language tutorials to science
experiments. Influencers such as Nas Daily use Facebook and Instagram to create short, engaging
videos that simplify complex topics and celebrate cultural diversity, thus promoting a form of
learning that resonates with a wide audience. Additionally, TikTok has become a popular platform
for educators and students alike to share micro-lessons on subjects like history, science, and literacy,
making learning accessible, engaging, and fun, especially for younger generations.
SDG 13: Climate Action
SDG 13 urges urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts through the integration of
climate measures into national policies, boosting public education, and raising awareness (UN
ESCAP, 2017). Climate change poses significant threats to ecosystems, economies, and vulnerable
communities. Key targets of SDG 13 include improving resilience to climate-related hazards and
bolstering national plans for climate mitigation and adaptation.
Climate change is a global challenge that affects all aspects of development, from food security to
health, requiring collective global efforts to mitigate its impact. Social media has become an
essential tool in climate advocacy. Platforms such as Twitter and Instagram have amplified
movements like #FridaysForFuture, initiated by Greta Thunberg. Thunberg gained international
recognition by sharing her school strike for climate on social media, which sparked a youth-driven
global climate movement. Her social media posts have inspired millions of young people worldwide
to take part in climate action protests and demand stronger environmental policies. Organizations
such as Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) have effectively used social media to raise
awareness about issues like deforestation, wildlife extinction, and rising carbon emissions. For
instance, WWF’s #EarthHour campaign has reached millions globally through Instagram and
