Social Media Behavior Analysis in Response to U.S. Climate Anomalies (2016-2024)

Abstract

Climate change is increasingly altering human behaviors and societal patterns across various domains. This study examines the influence of climate anomalies on human behavior and perception in the contiguous United States from 2016 to 2024. We employed a multi-method approach, integrating a large dataset of Flickr social media images and metadata with NOAA's temperature and precipitation anomaly records to analyze how extreme weather events and gradual climatic shifts shape online expressions of public behavior. The results of the study showed significant changes in user behavior during and after climate anomaly events. There was a significant increase in the amount of content posted related to extreme weather and the natural environment, while there was a significant decrease in the amount of content shared for outdoor activities and social and cultural activities. Seasonal differences were also prominent, with higher numbers of photos and more diverse content during summer anomalies, while winter anomalies focused public attention more on environmental change. There were also differences in the patterns of influence on user behavior between temperature and precipitation anomalies, with temperature anomalies triggering broader behavioral changes. This study suggests that social media visual data can effectively complement traditional methods of assessing the impacts of climate anomalies by providing new perspectives on the dynamics of public environmental engagement.