Exploring the Role of Social Media in Health Promotion

• Other Authors: Stellefson, Michael (Editor), Chaney, J. Don (Editor), Chaney, Beth H. (Editor), Paige, Samantha R. (Editor)
• Format: Electronic Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2020
• Subjects: Humanities; Social interaction; social media-based health management systems; theory of planned behavior; openness to new experience; sustained health engagement; physical literacy; activity; social media; online resource; Internet; HONcode; YouTube; COPD; Facebook; online community; self-management; social support; healthy consumption; purchase intention; trust; emotional support; expectation confirmation; privacy concern; consumer health informatics; natural language processing (NLP); online support groups; autism; micro-video; Provincial Health Committee; healthcare; Tik Tok; China; online social support; social identity; communication theory of identity; rural health; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; excessive drinking; Twitter; natural language processing; American Communities Project; health education; health promotion; ethics; wearable technology; drive for thinness; health-oriented websites; neuroticism; web content internalization; n/a
• Online Access: DOAB: download the publication; DOAB: description of the publication

The use of social media in public health education/promotion has been increasing due, in part, to its ability to remove physical access and geographical barriers for users. Specifically, social media provides an outlet to increase and promote translational health communication strategies and the effective dissemination of health information and data in ways that allow users to not only utilize, but also to create and share pertinent health information. Although social media applications in public health and health promotion have yielded success in terms of generating support structures and networks for effective health behavior change, there are challenges and complications associated with use of social media that also need to be addressed (e.g., managing misinformation, ensuring compliance with privacy protection regulations). This Special Issue aims to explore social media as a translational health promotion tool by bridging principles of health education and health communication. Broadly, this Special Issue is seeking original submissions that examine: (1) the method with which social media users access, negotiate, and create health information that is both actionable and impactful for diverse audiences; (2) strategies for overcoming challenges to using social media in health promotion; and (3) best practices for designing, implementing, and/or evaluating social media campaigns and forums in public health. Special interest will be given to innovative submissions that expand and build upon traditional health education approaches with health communication theories and models. Other manuscript types of interest include relevant position papers, brief reports, and commentaries.