Dependence on social media for climate change information and its effects: a survey study on a sample of Omanis

Climate change poses threats to the entire world and the Sultanate of Oman, including tropical storms, rising temperatures, and saltwater intrusion. Social media is an important source of information about climate change for the Omani public. This study examines a purposive sample from 418 Omanis who depend on social media for climate change information, investigating their information-seeking behaviors, motivations, interaction patterns, trust levels, and the resulting cognitive, emotional, and behavioral effects through utilizing information-seeking and media dependence theories. Results indicate that social media is the preferred source for climate change information, surpassing traditional media. Key drivers for its use include the speed of information dissemination and the interactive nature of content. Although a majority expresses moderate trust, skepticism exists due to exposure to misinformation. Instagram shows the highest levels of dependence on climate information. User engagement tends toward passive activities like following and sharing overactive verification. Social media dependence correlates positively with motives, interaction, trust, and effects. Interaction with climate content and trust are significant predictors of this dependence. Furthermore, stronger motives for using social media predict greater perceived effects, encompassing enhanced knowledge, emotional responses, and pro-environmental behaviors. The study underscores social media's critical role in disseminating climate information, shaping perceptions, and motivating action in Oman. These findings inform climate communication, media literacy, and policy.