Hashtag Social Media – Musings from Brafton’s Social Team – Earth Month Edition

Brafton’s monthly newsletter from the social team

Did you know April is Earth Month?
In this month’s newsletter, we look at the intersection of social media, sustainability and the environment.

In this month’s edition you will find:

• Surprising facts about the carbon footprint of social media…
• A spotlight on some great Earth Month campaigns…
• And a useful tool for finding your online carbon footprint!

#DYK

You’ve probably sent an email, browsed TikTok, posted to your Instagram story, or even *gasp* attended a meeting on Zoom or Google Meet by the time you are ready for this newsletter. If you’re anything like me, you’ve done all of this and more, all without considering the environmental impact of your online life.

According to The Shift ProjectA Paris-based climate think tank, the carbon footprint of our digital selves accounted for nearly 3.7% of global greenhouse emissions in 2019, and digital energy consumption is increasing at a rate of 4% per year.

Of course, using social media itself doesn’t necessarily contribute to global emissions – it’s the electricity needed to power our devices. According to a 2022 report from The International Energy Agency, data centers (excluding crypto) accounted for 220 to 320 terawatt hours of electricity use – a 60% increase from 2015.

#OMG

Did you know to turn the page Instagram for 1 minute Release 1.5 g of CO2? That might not seem like much, but consider how often you use the app – then think about how many other people...