BMC Public Health called for submissions to our Collection on the role of social media in public health.
Recent data show that nowadays, around 4.7 billion people use social media, which means that sixty percent of the global population has access to the internet community.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has shown how people use social media for information and guidance, in a way never seen before. This behavior gave people access not only to information related to the pandemic and the spread of the disease, but also to social media platforms aimed to reduce, for instance, the mental health consequences of the pandemic itself. The downside of this attitude in using social media is the risk of the spread of misinformation, where frequently facts get distorted. The undeniable problem of the internet is being open to everyone, meaning that anyone can add contents and information on any topic, including any health-related claim contradicting current scientific consensus. Therefore, to avoid health misinformation on social media, trust needs to be built into public health infrastructure and investment is needed into interventions and policies.
Social media can be used to efficiently spread and promote public health messages and campaigns. Awareness campaigns aim to sensibilize people on a specific disease or public health issue and achieve long-term lasting behavioral changes. Examples of these campaigns are awareness initiatives to motivate people to take action to prevent diseases, such as by self-screening, and control of risk factors.
Social media represents data sources for health surveillance to detect disease outbreaks and estimate disease incidence. These data can be used to identify populations in need and respond with customized interventions. Furthermore, the monitoring and collection of information can also help to quantify changes in disease awareness, and sentiments towards treatments and preventive interventions among people.
BMC Public Health had launched this collection calling for research on the role of social media in public health. We particularly welcomed submissions addressing:
- The potential benefits of social media in health promotion
- Social media and health communication
- Links between heavy social media use and health outcomes
- Opportunities and challenges in the use of social media for public health surveillance and campaigns
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