The importance of social media in corporate social responsibility

A new study by Dr. Lucie Kvasničková Stanislavská from Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague published in PeerJ Computer Science titled ‘Global analysis of Twitter communication in corporate social responsibility area: sustainability, climate change, and waste management’ has found that social media is an increasingly important tool for companies to communicate their corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts. The study analyzed over half a million tweets from 2017 to 2022 and identified the key topics and trends communicated in connection with CSR on Twitter. 

“Our results aid enterprises in developing communication strategies that support the company’s existence as a socially responsible subject and promote the management of the company’s reputation in accordance with the CSR philosophy,” write the authors. “The study also opens up possibilities for further research for other social media, such as Instagram or LinkedIn.”

The study found that the most commonly mentioned topics on Twitter in connection with CSR were sustainability, climate change, and waste management, highlighting the growing importance of environmental issues to companies and their stakeholders. However, the study also found that charity remained the largest single topic, indicating that social impact is still a key area of focus for companies. 

The analysis also identified areas of growth and decline in CSR communication on Twitter. The areas of ESG (environmental, social, and governance), social impact, and charity were identified as growth areas, while green and philanthropy were identified as decreasing in importance. The findings of the study have important implications for companies looking to improve their CSR efforts and engage with their stakeholders. The study is published in PeerJ Computer Science.