An analytical and experimental study of the energy transition discourse on YouTube

Aleix Bassolas; Piero Birello; Julian Vicens

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arXiv · 2511.16497

An analytical and experimental study of the energy transition discourse on YouTube

Aleix Bassolas·Piero Birello·Julian Vicens

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Abstract

Energy production and management face significant political, economic, and environmental challenges, yet the rise in information consumption through social media undermines the availability of reliable knowledge to the general public. This study examines the ideas discussed in the energy transition content on YouTube, assesses the most effective methods of communicating knowledge and information to the general public, and identifies the most engaged audiences. We examine videos related to the subject, analysing the themes discussed, the language used, and the emotions conveyed on YouTube, linking language formality to user engagement. To test the relationship experimentally, we uploaded original content to YouTube through two mirror channels containing the same material but using different levels of language formality. Our results indicate that conversational content reaches a broader audience, but retention rates are higher on the academic channel beyond the initial video segments. Interest in the topic varies by viewer profile, with younger individuals and women showing greater engagement regardless of language style.

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Aleix Bassolas, Piero Birello, Julian Vicens. 2025-11-20. An analytical and experimental study of the energy transition discourse on YouTube. https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.16497

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