NASA and Social Media: How Language Inspires Teens

In today’s world, you can find teens scrolling through social media, watching dance videos, memes, or edits of their favorite shows. Mixed into this stream of entertainment are accounts like NASA, which post pictures of galaxies and stars, short clips of what zero gravity looks like, and captions that sound more like stories than data. In a place where attention spans last less than a minute, NASA has found a way to engage audiences, especially teens, in educational topics. But how, you may ask? On platforms like Instagram that have over 2.4 billion accounts, it can be hard for certain posts to reach a wide range of audiences, but NASA uses three techniques that allow them to reach and inspire many. A close analysis of NASA’s social accounts has found that they use narrative storytelling, language of wonder, and inclusive appeals to identity to reach and attract audiences. By portraying space exploration as a shared endeavor and a personal invitation, NASA doesn’t just state the facts and call that science. Rather, it shares that science is about being a part of something larger than ourselves. While critics argue that posting about science on social media risks oversimplification, NASA’s goal is to demonstrate the power of knowledge and inspire the coming generations.

Narrative: Turning Data into Story

At the core, NASA focuses on sharing information through narratives. Instead of restating scientific data with science-related jargon, NASA crafts stories that appeal to the reader. For instance, in 2022, when the James Webb Space Telescope released its first images, NASA didn’t caption the Instagram post with data or numbers. Instead, it said, “A star is born. Thousands of never-before-seen young stars are revealed in this image of the Carina Nebula.” By using a common phrase such as “a star is born,” it transforms NASA’s scientific viewpoint into something more familiar and allows the viewers to understand it better. NASA uses emotion to connect with the audience, especially teens who may not understand the meaning of infrared light wavelengths.

You can see examples of this when NASA says that a planet is dancing instead of orbiting. Or they might describe galaxies colliding as characters in a drama. These personifications make it easier for the occurrence to be relatable to human experience. Narrative works well because humans are wired to stories. For teens, especially, who are still figuring themselves out, stories provide a way to place themselves into larger contexts. NASA posts and captions allow teens and others not only to learn more about science but also to feel like they are a part of the story and journey as well.

Wonder: The Language of Awe and Imagination

Alongside narrative, NASA also uses the language of wonder. You can often find words like “infinite,” “cosmic,” and “unimaginable” in the captions of their posts, and this emphasizes the emotional scale. For example, let’s look at the Perseverance rover landing on Mars in 2020. On X, NASA tweeted, “Touchdown confirmed. Perseverance is safely on the surface of Mars, ready to begin seeking signs of past life.”

The phrases “touchdown confirmed” and “ready to begin seeking signs of past life” are both factual, but they also get the audience thinking and imagining. Maybe you read that and pictured a video game adventure or science fiction. This effect is called sublime imagery, the evoking of a powerful mix of awe, wonder, and even a little fear. Through this, NASA appeals to an emotion that slowly transforms into curiosity. Neuroscience research has shown that awe expands perception of time and increases willingness to learn.

For the teens who scroll through their socials quickly, awe-filled language is essential. It makes them intrigued to take a moment to pause, re-read, and share with others. In a feed that is crowded, curiosity cuts through.

Identity: “We” Language and Inclusive Belonging

The third strategy NASA brings attention to is identity. Social media posts often include language like, “We are going back to the moon,” or, “Together, we are exploring the universe.” This framework is supportive and does two things. First, it transforms science from an exclusive activity only for professionals into a shared project for everyone. Teens don’t need a degree in astronomy or astrophysics to feel like they are a part of it.

Second, this inclusivity goes against the long history of elitism that comes with science. NASA breaks the boundary between scientists and everyday people. On social media, NASA celebrates the diversity of their astronauts, spotlights women and people of color, and emphasizes international cooperation and global partnerships.

In 2023, NASA made a post for Women’s History Month and wrote: “From astronauts to engineers, women make history at NASA every day.” This doesn’t only highlight representation, but it also gives a signal to teens and others that they belong in this story as well, regardless of their background or gender. In a time where forming identity in your teen years is important, such language provides a safe environment for people to find their true selves.

Counterargument: Does Social Media Oversimplify Science?

Critics argue that simplifying astrophysics on Instagram captions has the risk of oversimplification. They worry that narratives and phrases can replace the accuracy of scientific data with hype. They also mention that aesthetic images may obscure the complex and often uncertain work of science.

These critics do point out valid concerns. After all, one tweet cannot capture the deep complexity of dark matter research. But NASA’s purpose in posting on social media is not to teach an entire course about astronomy. Their purpose is to engage the audience and make them wonder and grow in curiosity. For those who want to know the deeper science behind it, articles, live streams, and NASA educational platforms are available resources. This suggests that social media should not be the end of learning but a gateway to new learning.

Final Thoughts

NASA’s social media platforms are not about promoting the brand but promoting curiosity. Their use of narrative, storytelling, the language of wonder, and inclusive identity appeals allows NASA to turn technical science data into everyday language that inspires others and invites them to learn more. While critics may argue about the risk of oversimplification, in a crowded and noisy place, NASA’s simple language can spark curiosity and build gateways for wonder. And for the next generation of astronauts, a simple post could be life-changing.

Reference
NASA. (2021, May 17). Students to Sign and Speak to NASA, ESA Astronauts in Orbit. Retrieved from nasa.gov

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