Modern Social Media as a Tool for Science Popularization in the Information Society

Abstract

The article contains the results of research of modern social media as the effective tool for dissemination of scientific knowledge and platforms for involvement the audience. Relevance of research is caused by growing scientific interest to emergence of a global communicative space, distinctive features of which are informal electronic communication, self-organization of scientists, and communication in social networks generally. The purpose of the article is to substantiate an application of modern social media for science popularization in the information society.

The objects of the study are social networks Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube channels. 4 categories of Facebook pages and groups on science popularization were analyzed: site pages, project pages, community pages, and personal pages of scientists. The coverage of science in social network Instagram was analyzed by the following parameters: page (blog) name, topics, number of subscribers, and number of publications. The analysis of YouTube platform, limited to Ukrainian-language YouTube channels, covers 9 channels according to the following parameters: subject area of channels, number of subscribers and views, and channel’s lifetime.

The study shows that popular science groups and pages on social networks Facebook and Instagram are effective tools for science popularization, one of the primary channels of communication between scientists, platforms for seeking like-minded people and keeping in touch with readers, and also enable scientists to increase significantly availability of the results for the general public and faster integrate the obtained data into relevant scientific context. They are a convenient option for conducting surveys and questionnaires, formation of theme groups for discussion of a particular problem, interaction between researchers from different countries and experience exchange, also dissemination of findings, invitation of people wished to participate in various scientific events.

It is found that YouTube channels, having a significant number of subscribers and views, are an effective way for science popularization and learning. It is concluded, that at a time when new social media penetrates science increasingly, Ukrainian research and educational institutions, individual researchers should make the most of the tool to provide public with high-quality popular science content. Further research on issues of using Internet space for science popularization should be focused on analysis of new tools for popularization of science and their applications by scientists.