An Overview of Social Media Use in the Field of Public Health Nutrition: Benefits, Scope, Limitations, and a Latin American Experience

Abstract

Social media platforms are low-cost tools that can be used to address issues in public health nutrition, especially in countries where health-related institutions experience economic limitations. We aimed to emphasize the benefits of using social media to promote health that have been documented to date. To show social media's positive impact on population health literacy, we briefly describe an inexpensive systematic communication strategy implemented in our research center through 2 social media platforms, the lessons learned, and the strategy's short-term results. Because social media use in public health is a new field of study, this perspective also focuses on the current limitations and gaps in evidence that need to be addressed to translate the best practices into policy recommendations. In conclusion, the perspective highlights the role that health actors and governments should take to maximize the benefits of social media use. Social media online platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, are promising instruments to improve population health. In 2012, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the global eHealth strategy to encourage the promotion, development, and evaluation of actions that involve these platforms (1,2). Social media can encourage citizen participation, optimize health systems, be an interactive space for science dissemination, support health policies, and promote healthy behaviors. This perspective emphasizes the benefits and limitations of social media, considering that they could effectively address public health nutrition problems.

A Social Media–Based Diabetes Intervention for Low-Income Mandarin-Speaking Chinese Immigrants in the United States: Feasibility Study

“…Leveraging widely used social media platforms may be a promising approach to deliver DSME to underserved Chinese immigrants in a time and place that is convenient to them [ 24 , 25 ]. In a prior study, we demonstrated ownership of smart devices by a majority of Chinese immigrants with T2D, widespread use of the free social media app, “WeChat,” and a strong interest in a WeChat-based DSME [ 26 ].…”

Impact of Social Media on Skin Cancer Prevention

“…Professional dermatology organizations and board-certified dermatologists have increased their public and professional engagement through social media. The use of social media has also gained recognition among the scientific community because its use is associated with higher article citation and increased accessibility to the general public [ 26 ]. In 2018, Patel et al revealed that the two most popular dermatology journals on social media were the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD) and JAMA Dermatology .…”

“…These compelling numbers are proof of the growing trend and usage of social media in the scientific community over the last few years. These platforms have become powerful instruments for health education that people from diverse age groups, locations, and economic statuses can use daily to learn and share knowledge [ 26 ]. Given this rise of dermatology content on social media, it is relevant to consider how social media is being used in regards to dermatological concerns and practices and how to best tackle them.…”

Overview of Facebook Use by Hospitals in Italy: A Nationwide Survey during the COVID-19 Emergency

“…A noteworthy case is that of Mayo Clinic, engaged in the management of dozens of hospitals in the US and which through various social accounts on various platforms is constantly engaged in disease awareness and prevention. Also, on an international level, the National Cancer Institute [ 32 ] and the WHO [ 33 ] are also excellent examples of how you can communicate with social networks. Among the Italian institutions, AIFA is actively engaged in the use of social networks for communication to the public [ 34 ].…”