Recent Articles
The media has immense power in shaping public narratives surrounding sensitive topics such as substance use. Its portrayals can unintentionally fuel harmful stereotypes and stigma, negatively impacting individuals struggling with addiction, influencing policy decisions, and hindering broader public health efforts.
As we move beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk of future infodemics remains significant, driven by emerging health crises and the increasing influence of Artificial Intelligence in the information ecosystem. During periods of apparent stability, proactive efforts to advance infodemiology are essential for enhancing preparedness and improving public health outcomes. This requires a thorough examination of the foundations of this evolving discipline, particularly in understanding how to accurately identify an infodemic at the appropriate time and scale, and how to distinguish it from other processes of viral information spread, both within and outside the realm of public health. In this paper, we integrate expertise from data science and public health to examine the key differences between information production during infodemics and viral information spread. We explore both clear and subtle distinctions, including context and contingency (i.e. association of infodemic/viral information spread with a health crisis); information dynamics in terms of volume, spread, and predictability; the role of misinformation and information voids; societal impact, and mitigation strategies. By analyzing these differences, we highlight challenges and open questions. These include whether an infodemic is solely associated with pandemics or could arise from other health emergencies; if infodemics are limited to health-related issues or if they could emerge from crises initially unrelated to health (like climate events); whether infodemics are exclusively global phenomena or if they can occur on national or local scales. Finally, we propose directions for future quantitative research to help the scientific community more robustly differentiate between these phenomena and develop tailored management strategies.
Nutritional yeast, an inactive form of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has recently become increasingly popular as a food supplement and healthy ingredient, especially among those following plant-based diets. It is valued for its health benefits and its high content of B vitamins, minerals, and protein. Social media has allowed people to share information and personal experiences at an unprecedented level, further amplifying conversations around health and nutrition, With the rise in social media, data mining techniques like Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML) are increasingly used for analyzing the large amounts of information generated on these platforms.
Hypertrophic scars (HTSs) are a predominant condition after burns and trauma, and it causes severe physiological and psychological problems. TikTok (Douyin in Chinese), a popular platform for sharing short videos, has shown the potential to spread health information, including information related to HTSs. Educating the public to obtain correct information is important to reduce the incidence of physiological and psychological problems caused by HTSs. However, the quality and reliability of HTS-related video content on TikTok in mainland China have not been thoroughly studied.
In the past decade, hashtag feminism has emerged in Mexico as a prevalent strategy to build social movements against gender-based violence (GBV). For example, during the global “16 Days of Activism Against GBV” campaign held between November 25 and December 10 each year, Mexico-based nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) turn to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share messages. Despite this prevalence, there is limited research on the type of information shared by these NGO activists on social media and the public’s engagement with these messages.
The COVID-19 pandemic intensified the challenges associated with mental health and substance use (SU), with societal and economic upheavals leading to heightened stress and increased reliance on drugs as a coping mechanism. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from June 2020 showed that 13% of Americans used substances more frequently due to pandemic-related stress, accompanied by an 18% rise in drug overdoses early in the year. Simultaneously, a significant increase in social media engagement provided unique insights into these trends. Our study analyzed social media data from January 2019 to December 2021 to identify changes in SU patterns across the pandemic timeline, aiming to inform effective public health interventions.
Social media holds an increasingly significant position in contemporary society, wherein evolving public perspectives are mirrored by changing information. However, there remains a lack of comprehensive analysis regarding the nature and evolution of dental health care information on Chinese social media platforms (SMPs) despite extensive user engagement and voluminous content.
High blood pressure (≥140/90 mm Hg) is the most prominent mortality risk factor worldwide. Home blood pressure measurement (HBPM) is recommended for blood pressure (BP) management. HBPM is most effective to improve BP management when delivered with patient education. It is unknown whether web-based resources are appropriate for patient education for HBPM. Patient education should provide accurate, evidence-based information, communicate at an eighth grade reading level, and involve end users in development to meet the needs of adults of all health literacy levels. Using these criteria, this study aimed to determine the appropriateness of web-based HBPM resources.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, health experts used social media platforms to share information and advocate for policies. Many of them faced online abuse, which some reported took a toll on their mental health and well-being. Variation in the impacts of online abuse on mental health, well-being, and professional efficacy suggest that health communicators may differ in their coping strategies and ultimately their resilience to such abuse.
