“That makes all the difference”: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health‐seeking on social media

Abstract

There has been significant scholarly interest in the opportunities social media provides for "health-seeking" -seeking help for issues of health and well-being -particularly for marginalised or hard-to-reach populations, including youth, the elderly and Indigenous people. [1][2][3] Online health-seeking is a complex phenomenon, however, often implicit rather than explicit, frequently difficult to identify or categorise and often not resulting in clearly positive health outcomes. 4 Moreover, health-seeking practices are formed and informed by social norms of behaviour, which shape what is considered "appropriate" online practice and what people feel safe or comfortable

Mature aged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults are using digital health technologies (original research)

“…Our study also builds on the growing body of work that has shown the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people use social media for a variety of purposes, including for health communication. 8 , 19 , 35 , 36 …”

“… 6 , 7 Cultural safety and trust are particularly relevant for communities underserved by centrally-controlled, mainstream-focused health messaging, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 8 – 10 …”

“… 15 , 16 Carlson & Dreher noted that social media, with its emphasis on peer-to-peer connectivity and movement away from hierarchal top-down centrally controlled messaging is more in keeping with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of learning and being. 8 Likewise, Rice et al observed that the nature of social media is culturally compatible with orally and visually focused cultures. 17 Moreover, the Aboriginal health sector was an early adopter of social media for advocacy, public health promotion and community development.…”

A new path to address health disparities: How older Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander women use social media to enhance community health (Protocol)

“…McPhail-Bell et al highlighted the importance of building community online and offline and the value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people placed on flexibility, trustworthiness and cultural appropriateness in determining the platform's usefulness. 30 In analysing the small body of social media health promotion research that includes Aboriginal adults, Carlson et al 29 suggested that social media was a potential avenue for health promotion that was accessible and respectful of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of being, they noted themes that reflect principles of reciprocity, self-determination, relationality, culture protocol and cultural strength. In keeping with Carlson et al 29 observations regarding the synergy between social media and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of being, Rice et al in a recent review of the literature, identified several themes related to how and why Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people use digital technologies, including community connection, identity, power and control.…”

“… 30 In analysing the small body of social media health promotion research that includes Aboriginal adults, Carlson et al 29 suggested that social media was a potential avenue for health promotion that was accessible and respectful of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of being, they noted themes that reflect principles of reciprocity, self-determination, relationality, culture protocol and cultural strength. In keeping with Carlson et al 29 observations regarding the synergy between social media and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of being, Rice et al in a recent review of the literature, identified several themes related to how and why Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people use digital technologies, including community connection, identity, power and control. The cultural compatibility of social media, specifically the multimedia nature of the medium and its compatibility with orally and visually focused cultures, was also noted as a reason for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth's high usage.…”