The Impact of Social Media Activities on Marine and Coastal Litter in Cyprus

Kemal Emirzade () and Mehmet Fatih Huseyinoglu
Additional contact information
Kemal Emirzade: Faculty of Maritime Studies, University of Kyrenia, 99320 Girne, Cyprus
Mehmet Fatih Huseyinoglu: Faculty of Maritime Studies, University of Kyrenia, 99320 Girne, Cyprus

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-19

Abstract: This study explores the role of social media in raising awareness, fostering community engagement, and supporting efforts to reduce marine and coastal litter in Cyprus. Focusing on campaigns led by community-based organizations such as Yesil Baris Hareketi, Teneke Cocuk, and the Spot Turtle Project, the research highlights how digital platforms can mobilize public opinion and influence pro-environmental behaviors. Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms particularly natural language processing (NLP) techniques were employed to analyze large volumes of social media data, enabling the detection of engagement patterns, sentiment dynamics, and thematic trends within environmental campaigns. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining social media content analysis, engagement metrics, and stakeholder interviews to provide a comprehensive view of the digital advocacy landscape. Findings suggest that social media plays a critical role in shaping public perceptions of marine litter; however, sustaining long-term behavioral change remains a significant challenge. The study offers practical recommendations for enhancing digital strategies, strengthening stakeholder collaboration, and integrating social media efforts with policy development and environmental education.

Keywords: coastal conservation; social media; marine litter; artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms; Cyprus; marine pollution; natural language processing (NLP) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/11/4821/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/11/4821/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:11:p:4821-:d:1663110

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().