SOCIAL media platform Instagram is being used by Cumbrian students for climate activism.

When most people think of Instagram, they think of models, meals, and memes. They don’t tend to think of mobilising the masses to move mountains and change public opinion.

But, two students at Cockermouth School are approaching climate activism through Instagram rather than the more traditional methods. Since creating the group two weeks ago, the pair have managed to get students from schools in Eden, Carlisle, Kendal, and Penrith involved.

They have three aims that they hope their activism will achieve: the reduction in the use of single-use plastics in schools, discussing the impact of the new Whitehaven coal mine with the community and the county council, and push the county council to declare a climate emergency.

Isabella Bridgman, 14, believes that Instagram is the superior social media platform for connecting with like-minded others.

“Our generation uses Instagram more than Facebook so we find it easier to reach people,” she said.

Clare Rodger, also 14, said: “We don’t really use Facebook that much but with Instagram we’ve got support from other UKSCN groups.”

UKSCN, meaning the UK Student Climate Network, is the name for the wider activist group the girls are part of. It is the figurehead behind the youth strikes that have taken place across the country over the last three months.

By uniting under the banner of UKSCN they have access to support and guidance on managing social media accounts to get people to engage with the cause.

The group gives guidance on “how to get people to interact with us, what hashtags to use, things to put on the stories,” said Isabella.

The effects of climate change is a visual phenomenon that works well for the imaging platform. The UN Foundation ran a successful campaign on Instagram aimed at drawing attention to how climate change is experienced differently across the world.

It was the Cumbria Youth Climate Summit that acted as a kick-off point for the students to begin discussing the possibility of a cross-county inter-school climate alliance. In a half-thought out, half spur of the moment decision, Isabella and Clare used their presentation as a way to spread their message to the 60 other students.

“I will continue to support Cumbria’s youth in the continuation of their campaign, but I want to see schools across the country given the green light to do the same,” said Graham Frost, organiser of the Cumbria Youth Climate Summit.

Getting to grips with the science, and the general issues, surrounding climate change can be quite tricky especially if you’re new to the subject but Clare says the best way to get started is to ask those already in the know, through your own research, and by reading the news.

UKSCN Cumbria is still in it’s early stages but they’re planning to take part in the next youth strike and they’re looking at talking to people from across the county to figure out their next steps.