How to use social media for health communication with young people

With 82% of young people using social media for health information, it’s increasingly important for health professionals to cut through online misinformation with reliable and appealing social media health communication for young people.

The public’s reliance on online sources like social media for health information is increasingly risky in the age of misinformation and misleading health claims from unreliable sources. To reduce these risks, the US Surgeon General recommends that health professionals join the effort to combat online misinformation using these three steps: (1) engage and educate patients and the public; (2) use social media platforms to share accurate health information with the public; and (3) partner with community groups and other organisation to prevent and address misinformation.

In particular, health professionals can use social media to reach groups, like young people, who rarely engage with other official health communication channels but are very active on social media.