social media Archives - This Week In Public Health

Commentary

Taking the Fight to Facebook: A Pilot of Science vs. Spin

Public health doesn’t just happen in hospitals or labs—it happens in the comment section.At This Week in Public Health, we’re running a real-time experiment on Facebook to see whether evidence-based engagement can actually change how people talk about health online. Instead of arguing or correcting from a distance, we’re testing a structured set of conversations […]

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News

Quick Sunday update, 9/28/25

Hi all, Coming to you from a soccer field early Sunday morning. I’m asking you to follow us on Facebook. You may skeptically ask, “Why?” Well, we all know Twitter is a cesspool, and Bluesky, bless its heart, is a bit of a science-positive echo chamber. The people we need need to reach still are […]

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News

Next Week in Public Health, July 25, 2025

Do you follow the HHS Facebook page? I do, mainly because I think I should. But, boy, it’s adopted the bizarre self-promotional tactics of the president. I’ve always been loath to jump into the comment sections on public Facebook posts — no good can come of it. Helpfully, I work under an HHS contract, so […]

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Social media analysis

The Health Industry’s $1M Campaign to Kill Universal Care

What if the biggest threat to universal health care isn’t in Congress, but in your Facebook feed? In 2019, a coalition of private healthcare giants launched a million-dollar advertising campaign on Meta platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. Their target wasn’t a competing company or product; it was you, specifically, your perception of universal health care. […]

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Epi

420 Million Geo-Tagged Posts Reveal Pandemic Prediction Clues

Imagine trying to predict a hurricane, but your radar only works on half the sky. That’s the challenge public health officials face when trying to forecast COVID-19 surges using social media. New research published in Frontiers in Public Health reveals that politics and pandemic forecasting are more closely intertwined than previously expected. Researchers analyzed over 420 million […]

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Resources

Influencers in Public Health: Practical Strategies for Practitioners

In the rapidly evolving world of public health, it’s more critical than ever to stay connected with communities. As we aim to improve health outcomes, one powerful tool that has shown tremendous potential is influencer marketing, especially when it involves nano-influencers – individuals with smaller but highly engaged followings. In our previous blog, we explored […]

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Social media analysis

Nano or Macro? How Small Influencers Make a Big Impact in Public Health

In the bustling world of social media, influencer marketing has quickly become a powerful tool for brands looking to connect with their audiences. But with so many influencers to choose from, how do you know who will drive the best results? A new study has shed light on this very question, and the findings are […]

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Mental health

A Social Media Warning Label?

Social media has become an integral part of our lives, especially for adolescents. They scroll through Instagram, share TikTok videos, and chat with friends on Discord—all while navigating their schoolwork, friendships, and self-image. But is this digital interaction harming their mental health? According to US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, the answer may be yes, […]

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Social media analysis

How New Tech Could Protect Public Health

Yes, technology platforms play an integral role in shaping our daily lives. From social media to streaming services, these platforms are designed to keep us engaged and entertained. However, a recent study titled “Accountability Infrastructure: How to Implement Limits on Platform Optimization to Protect Population Health” by Nathaniel Lubin and Thomas Krendl Gilbert sheds light […]

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Research

Navigating Social Media: The Complex Relationship Between Use, Social Anxiety, and Loneliness

Social media, to the chagrin of many, has become an integral part of our lives, especially among young adults. But what is the impact of social media use (SMU) on our mental health, particularly about social anxiety and loneliness? A systematic review titled “Social media use, social anxiety, and loneliness: A systematic review” explores this […]

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Tag: social media

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