Rabat - A recent study reveals that Moroccans are increasingly turning to social media as their primary source for accessing and discussing scientific information.
Morocco was part of a groundbreaking international survey involving 67 countries, which examined how people around the globe obtain scientific knowledge. The study was shared with Morocco World News (MWN) by Suleiman Abdulsalam, a PhD student in Urban Environmental Design and Planning at Virginia Tech University, and a 2023 graduate from the School of Collective Intelligence program at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Ben Guerir, Morocco.
Conducted by 241 researchers from 170 institutional laboratories, the Trust in Science Project (TISP) surveyed over 71,900 respondents worldwide between November 2022 and August 2023. The study provides key insights into how people across the globe engage with science information, with Morocco’s inclusion offering valuable perspectives on science communication within North African populations.
The findings highlight the growing reliance on social media platforms for accessing scientific data. Respondents across the world reported encountering scientific content regularly on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
This international research sheds light on the role of social media in global science communication, emphasizing its significance in shaping individual and collective decision-making. It suggests that social conversations around science, whether through news media, social media, personal discussions, or fiction, contribute significantly to public understanding.
Morocco's participation in the study is particularly timely, as its digital landscape has been rapidly expanding. By 2025, over 81% of Moroccans are expected to use social media, a notable increase from 2020, making the country's involvement in this international science communication study highly relevant.
The research assessed five key sources of science information: news media, fiction, social media, personal conversations, and formal science communication via museums and public talks. Moroccan respondents indicated that they often use social media once or twice a week to access scientific information, while formal science communication, such as museum visits or public talks, is used much less frequently.
The study also revealed significant regional differences in how people access science information. While many North and West European countries, as well as Russia, still prefer traditional media like newspapers and TV news, social media plays a more prominent role in many Southeast Asian and African countries. In fact, the survey found that people in lower-GDP nations are more likely to rely on social media for science information, possibly due to its cost-effectiveness.
The inclusion of Morocco and other non-Western countries in this research addresses a major gap in science communication studies, which have traditionally focused on Western countries. The study suggests that decision-makers in the "Global South" may draw inaccurate conclusions if they rely solely on Western data, highlighting the importance of culturally relevant science communication strategies.
The TISP study is one of the most extensive assessments of global science communication to date, offering a more inclusive and culturally sensitive approach to understanding how people across the world access and engage with scientific knowledge. As Morocco continues to grow its scientific research and digital infrastructure, understanding how its citizens engage with science is critical for shaping informed policies and public engagement strategies.