Teens Credit Instagram for Rise of Young Vegans

United Kingdom media outlet The Guardian recently interviewed several teens and concluded that photo-driven social media platform Instagram might be responsible for the 360-percent increase in the UK vegan population. Of the 542,000 vegans currently living in the UK, 42 percent are between the ages of 15 and 34. Euan Reece, 17, explains his motives for going vegan were not celebrity-inspired but instead points out that “the main driving force behind the movement is social media,” as dissemination of information online is fast and finding community support is easy. Reece’s peer Megan Malthouse also points to social media as an effective driver of veganism, stating, “On Instagram, people make veganism look like a very desirable lifestyle, and young girls can be influenced by that. They always show pictures of vegan people looking beautiful and healthy.” However, Malthouse reveals her motivations aren’t entirely based on beauty. “I see it more as a compassionate movement that I want to play a big role in,” Malthouse said.

Photo courtesy of @fullyrawkristina