Instagram and prostate cancer: using validated instruments to assess the quality of information on social media

Xu, A.; Myrie, Akya; Taylor, Jacob; Matulewicz, Richard S.; Tian, Ganghong; Pérez-Rosas, Verónica; Mihalcea, Rada; Loeb, Stacy

doi:10.1038/s41391-021-00473-7

Cited by 14 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Prior studies demonstrate how established platform features and tools (groups, timelines, sharing posts) are employed by users and providers to purposefully or inadvertently spread cancer misinformation [4,11,17,[61][62][63]. In difference from such studies, we demonstrate an active element in social media platforms spreading and profiting from misleading medical information.…”

Section: Principal Findingsmentioning

confidence: 62%

Advertising Alternative Cancer Treatments and Approaches on Meta Social Media Platforms: Content Analysis (Preprint)

Zenone¹,

Snyder²,

Bélisle-Pipon³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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BACKGROUND Alternative cancer treatment is associated with a greater risk of death than cancer patients undergoing conventional treatments. Anecdotal evidence suggests cancer patients view paid advertisements promoting alternative cancer treatment on social media, but the extent and nature of this advertising remain unknown. This context suggests an urgent need to investigate alternative cancer treatment advertising on social media. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to systematically analyze the advertising activities of prominent alternative cancer treatment practitioners on Meta platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Audience Network. We specifically sought to determine (1) whether paid advertising for alternative cancer treatment occurs on Meta social media platforms, (2) the strategies and messages of alternative cancer providers to reach and appeal to prospective patients, and (3) how the efficacy of alternative treatments is portrayed. METHODS Between December 6, 2021, and December 12, 2021, we collected active advertisements from alternative cancer clinics using the Meta Ad Library. The information collected included identification number, URL, active/inactive status, dates launched/ran, advertiser page name, and a screenshot (image) or recording (video) of the advertisement. We then conducted a content analysis to determine how alternative cancer providers communicate the claimed benefits of their services and evaluated how they portrayed alternative cancer treatment efficacy. RESULTS We identified 310 paid advertisements from 11 alternative cancer clinics on Meta (Facebook, Instagram, or Messenger) marketing alternative treatment approaches, care, and interventions. Alternative cancer providers appealed to prospective patients through eight strategies: (1) advertiser representation as a legitimate medical provider (n=289, 93.2%); (2) appealing to persons with limited treatments options (n=203, 65.5%); (3) client testimonials (n=168, 54.2%); (4) promoting holistic approaches (n=121, 39%); (5) promoting messages of care (n=81, 26.1%); (6) rhetoric related to science and research (n=72, 23.2%); (7) rhetoric pertaining to the latest technology (n=63, 20.3%); and (8) focusing treatment on cancer origins and cause (n=43, 13.9%). Overall, 25.8% (n=80) of advertisements included a direct statement claiming provider treatment can cure cancer or prolong life. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide evidence alternative cancer providers are using Meta advertising products to market scientifically unsupported cancer treatments. Advertisements regularly referenced “alternative” and “natural” treatment approaches to cancer. Imagery and text content that emulated evidence-based medical providers created the impression that the offered treatments were effective medical options for cancer. Advertisements exploited the hope of patients with terminal and poor prognoses by sharing testimonials of past patients who allegedly were cured or had their lives prolonged. We recommend that Meta introduce a mandatory, human-led authorization process that is not reliant upon artificial intelligence for medical-related advertisers before giving advertising permissions. Further research should focus on the conflict of interest between social media platforms advertising products and public health.

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Section: Principal Findingsmentioning

confidence: 62%

Advertising Alternative Cancer Treatments and Approaches on Meta Social Media Platforms: Content Analysis (Preprint)

Zenone¹,

Snyder²,

Bélisle-Pipon³

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Meta advertising tools enable alternative clinics to promote and at some level target their advertisements to people with cancer. Prior studies demonstrate how established platform features and tools (groups, timelines, sharing posts) are employed by users and providers to purposefully or inadvertently spread cancer misinformation [ 4 , 11 , 17 , 61 - 63 ]. In difference from such studies, we demonstrate an active element in social media platforms spreading and profiting from misleading medical information.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advertising Alternative Cancer Treatments and Approaches on Meta Social Media Platforms: Content Analysis

Zenone¹,

Snyder²,

Bélisle-Pipon³

et al. 2023

JMIR Infodemiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Alternative cancer treatment is associated with a greater risk of death than cancer patients undergoing conventional treatments. Anecdotal evidence suggests cancer patients view paid advertisements promoting alternative cancer treatment on social media, but the extent and nature of this advertising remain unknown. This context suggests an urgent need to investigate alternative cancer treatment advertising on social media. Objective This study aimed to systematically analyze the advertising activities of prominent alternative cancer treatment practitioners on Meta platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Audience Network. We specifically sought to determine (1) whether paid advertising for alternative cancer treatment occurs on Meta social media platforms, (2) the strategies and messages of alternative cancer providers to reach and appeal to prospective patients, and (3) how the efficacy of alternative treatments is portrayed. Methods Between December 6, 2021, and December 12, 2021, we collected active advertisements from alternative cancer clinics using the Meta Ad Library. The information collected included identification number, URL, active/inactive status, dates launched/ran, advertiser page name, and a screenshot (image) or recording (video) of the advertisement. We then conducted a content analysis to determine how alternative cancer providers communicate the claimed benefits of their services and evaluated how they portrayed alternative cancer treatment efficacy. Results We identified 310 paid advertisements from 11 alternative cancer clinics on Meta (Facebook, Instagram, or Messenger) marketing alternative treatment approaches, care, and interventions. Alternative cancer providers appealed to prospective patients through eight strategies: (1) advertiser representation as a legitimate medical provider (n=289, 93.2%); (2) appealing to persons with limited treatments options (n=203, 65.5%); (3) client testimonials (n=168, 54.2%); (4) promoting holistic approaches (n=121, 39%); (5) promoting messages of care (n=81, 26.1%); (6) rhetoric related to science and research (n=72, 23.2%); (7) rhetoric pertaining to the latest technology (n=63, 20.3%); and (8) focusing treatment on cancer origins and cause (n=43, 13.9%). Overall, 25.8% (n=80) of advertisements included a direct statement claiming provider treatment can cure cancer or prolong life. Conclusions Our results provide evidence alternative cancer providers are using Meta advertising products to market scientifically unsupported cancer treatments. Advertisements regularly referenced “alternative” and “natural” treatment approaches to cancer. Imagery and text content that emulated evidence-based medical providers created the impression that the offered treatments were effective medical options for cancer. Advertisements exploited the hope of patients with terminal and poor prognoses by sharing testimonials of past patients who allegedly were cured or had their lives prolonged. We recommend that Meta introduce a mandatory, human-led authorization process that is not reliant upon artificial intelligence for medical-related advertisers before giving advertising permissions. Further research should focus on the conflict of interest between social media platforms advertising products and public health.

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“…Compared to Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook, the research on the use of Instagram is less robust, and the few studies that have been conducted have focused more on describing the current status and analyzing content quality [ 33 , 36 , 37 ]. In a study conducted by Herbert and colleagues, the quality of posts related to pelvic organ prolapse on Instagram was evaluated.…”

Section: Instagrammentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Media and Apps in Urology

Wang

Malik

2023

Curr Surg Rep

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Purpose of Review In this study, we aimed to review the common social media (SoMe) apps used and how they have impacted the practice and exchange of information, as well as the challenges of using SoMe in urology. Recent Findings SoMe has become increasingly popular in the urology community. Lay users often turn to SoMe to learn about urological health and share their own experiences, while medical professionals may use it for career development, networking, education, and research purposes. Summary It is important to recognize the power of SoMe and to use it responsibly and ethically, particularly given the potential risks of encountering low-quality or misleading information.

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Instagram and prostate cancer: using validated instruments to assess the quality of information on social media

Cited by 14 publications

References 7 publications

Advertising Alternative Cancer Treatments and Approaches on Meta Social Media Platforms: Content Analysis (Preprint)

Advertising Alternative Cancer Treatments and Approaches on Meta Social Media Platforms: Content Analysis (Preprint)

Advertising Alternative Cancer Treatments and Approaches on Meta Social Media Platforms: Content Analysis

Social Media and Apps in Urology

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