When was the last time you cooked using a printed recipe card or opened a recipe book for instruction? Think about it. If I were a betting person, I’d bet that you reached for your phone or computer for that recipe. Social media and it’s easy-to-navigate content at hand has changed the format of the family recipe box. “A study of 2,000 adults found that 71 per cent of people have “gone digital” in the kitchen with 23 per cent getting their cooking ideas from Facebook and 21 per cent from Instagram,” says Lucy Brimble in her article from Independent.co.uk.
Recipes can be found on all sorts of social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and even links provided on the limited characters Twitter allows for its posts. View the informative video below included in this post that states, “More than half of people have tried a recipe they saw on social media.”
And when it comes to promoting a recipe, photos and videos are key influencers. “It’s no surprise social media continues to influence people’s habits in unexpected and unique ways, including food trends. What we found enlightening was the importance of photogenic foods and how that has impacted the rise in popularity of foods like figs,” says Karla Stockli, CEO of the California Fig Advisory Board who are also responsible for this infographic.
The hashtag #foodporn, used across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Pinterest, also makes is easy to find what others are having for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack – meaning everyone can showcase their culinary efforts and achievements.
So what’s for dinner tonight at your house? Something you’ve seen online?
Facebook:
“What’s for dinner at your house tonight? Something you’ve seen online? Read why there’s a good chance of that: https://wordpress.com/post/algonquincollegesocialmedia.wordpress.com/126066”
Twitter:
“Social Media has changed the family recipe box and here’s why: https://wordpress.com/post/algonquincollegesocialmedia.wordpress.com/126066”
Algonquin College Social Media Certificate Program 
Hello Tammy. I couldn’t agree with you more. Yes, I literally turn on my phone every time I cook to search for recipes online and follow them. And when I pick a recipe, I always choose the one that has a very sophisticated color palette and layout that appeals to me. I always subconsciously think that they will be delicious and if I follow the recipe, I will also make such a good looking dish.
Hey Tammy, I am guilty as charged!! I have also stolen many recipes off of Facebook and TikTok. The number of saved recipes on my phone would shock you. Love this idea for a post!!!
Hello Tammy. Now you honestly have me thinking and wondering what to have for dinner tonight! I honestly feel that I have learn so much about cooking online that I lowkey feel like a chef sometimes when the dishes turn out good!
Hi Tammy,
So interesting to think about the fact that foods have become more popular because they are “photogenic”. If you think about some recent foods that have grown in popularity such as Brussel Sprouts, cauliflower or Kale have probably all benefitted from being photogenic in recipes.
What an excellent Blog! I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve logged into Instagram or Googled a new dinner idea. It’s so true; I can’t remember the last time I physically used a recipe book. Photos are by far the best way to lure people into viewing a recipe online, my husband even tags me in attractive food videos on Facebook (not sure how I should take that), but I love learning new ideas. My newfound favourite recipe from social media is this,
So good!
Thank you for this blog, love it!
Hello, I am definitely guilty of using the #foodporn. Maybe it is just my generation but I couldn’t imagine ordering food I didn’t plan on eating just to post it online. To see that percentage so high was a little shocking. And to see only 54% of people use social to get recipes is the opposite much lower than I expected. Great read thanks.
I completely agree with this! I have so many cookbooks yet only find myself using recipes I’ve found online. When I am craving something, I’ll go online and search for different recipes with that ingredient in it for ideas. Great post, Tammy 🙂
Thank you for sharing this post Tammy, I can totally agree that I have been cooking way more than ever thanks to social media. Half of my social media home pages are full of recipes that I have been saving! Great topic.
I regularly look for recipes using social media, and especially like when friends post the recipes that they have already tried and tested! But I have kept a few of my cookbooks that contain old recipes that we love – I just don’t have the heart to take a pic of the recipes and get rid of the books yet. Maybe never.