The Association Between Social Media Usage on Food Choice Motivations and Dietary Carbon Footprints in Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study

Social media has become a prominent digital environment associated with adolescents’ food preferences and the environmental impacts of their diets. This study aimed to examine the relationship between social media usage habits, food choice motivations, and the environmental impact of the diet, specifically the carbon footprint, in adolescents. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 216 adolescents aged 14–18 years in Istanbul between January and April 2025. Data were collected using the Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ) and a 24 h dietary recall. The dietary carbon footprint was calculated by mapping 24 h dietary recall data to emission factors from the Data FIELDS database and scientific literature. Of the participants, 60.6% were female. Females had significantly higher rates of being influenced by social media in food choices (p < 0.001) and total FCQ scores (p = 0.025) compared to males. Regarding social media platforms, TikTok usage was associated with higher ethical concern and mood scores (p < 0.001), while Instagram usage was associated with weight control (p = 0.012). Daily internet use of 180 min was associated with higher price (p = 0.001) and weight control (p = 0.003) motivations. Notably, a significant negative correlation was found between health motivation and carbon footprint (r = −0.173, p = 0.011). Multivariate regression analysis confirmed that an increase in health score was associated with a reduction in carbon footprint (β = −0.204, p = 0.003), independent of gender, BMI, and social media influence. Social media platforms serve as a relevant digital environment associated with adolescents’ food preferences. The finding that health-oriented choices are associated with lower carbon footprints indicates that promoting healthy eating on social media will benefit both individual and planetary health.