Social Media and Environmental Communication in China: A Systematic Review of Present Status, Trends, and Future Challenges

This study systematically reviewed 38 peer-reviewed articles (2020–2024) on social media and environmental communication in China following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. It identified dominant research patterns across themes, theories, methods, and platforms. The field is heavily shaped by behavioral models (e.g., TPB, NAT) and survey-based designs, while institutional dynamics, platform governance, and cross-platform processes remain underexamined. Weibo and WeChat dominate as research sites, whereas short-video platforms like TikTok and Bilibili are emerging but undertheorized. Cross-level frameworks are frequently reduced to individual-level predictors, and social media are often treated as neutral delivery tools. The review highlights the need for multi-level approaches linking individual cognition, media architectures, and governance contexts to better capture how environmental publics form and operate in China’s platformed ecology. This study contributes to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals by revealing how social media infrastructures mediate environmental awareness, engagement, and systemic change.