Zika virus pandemic—analysis of Facebook as a social media health information platform

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2016.08.022

American Journal of Infection Control

Volume 45, Issue 3, 1 March 2017, Pages 301-302

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2016.08.022 Get rights and content

Highlights

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The arrival of Zika virus in America has generated a lot of awareness in social media due to the algorithmic increase in the spread of the disease and its concerning complications.
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Accurate & credible dissemination of correct information about the arbovirus could help in decreasing the pandemic spread and associated apprehension in the population.
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Our study examined the effective use of the social media site Facebook as an information source for the Zika virus pandemic.
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We found that the misleading posts were far more popular than the posts dispersing accurate relevant public health information about the disease.

The arrival of Zika virus in the United States has generated a lot of activity on social media focusing on the algorithmic increase in the spread of the disease and its concerning complications. Accurate and credible dissemination of correct information about the arbovirus could help in decreasing the pandemic spread and associated apprehension in the population. Our study examined the effective use of the social media site Facebook (Facebook Inc, Menlo Park, CA) as an information source for the Zika virus pandemic. We found that the misleading posts were far more popular than the posts dispersing accurate, relevant public health information about the disease.

Section snippets

Methods

We searched Facebook's desktop platform for a week starting June 21, 2016, using the key words Zika and virus for posts and videos during the previous month containing relevant public health information about the disease. The search was done using a newly created nascent account to avoid bias in the search results. There were many discussion groups with 21,786 members and more than 221 posts/videos during the previous month. The top-200 posts were selected for analysis by 2 independent

Results

A total of 200 of the most popular posts with relevant information on Zika virus posted during the previous month were selected. The classification of these posts was done independently by 2 physician reviewers (MS and KY) from different academic institutions. There was a discrepancy in classification of 17 posts and these posts were eliminated from the study. In all, 81% of posts and videos had useful information or credible news updates about the disease (Table 1). The Centers for Disease

Discussion

Information dissemination is vital during times of public health crisis. Internet social media is an effective medium with universal outreach where information sharing is available to the public. Facebook has been shown to be a good source for vital information and updates as the Zika virus pandemic travels north to America. We found the useful videos on Facebook to be great educational tools for the general public. These are increasingly popular, with more than 100,000 users communicating

Conclusions

Our study highlights Facebook as a platform for health information dissemination during times of public health crisis. It is interesting that the misguided video posts about Zika virus were far more popular than the posts dispersing accurate public health information about the disease. We propose better curation of public health-related social media posts during times of health crises and pandemics. It is important to realize that very strict criteria or censorship will likely result in

References (4)

A.S. Fauci et al.
Zika virus in the Americas—yet another arbovirus threat
N Engl J Med
(2016)
T. Oduyebo et al.
Update: interim guidance for health care providers caring for pregnant women with possible Zika virus exposure—United States, July 2016
Morb Mortal Wkly Rep
(2016)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

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: Conflicts of interest: None to report.

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Brief ReportZika virus pandemic—analysis of Facebook as a social media health information platform

Highlights

Section snippets

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusions

Zika virus in the Americas—yet another arbovirus threat

N Engl J Med

Update: interim guidance for health care providers caring for pregnant women with possible Zika virus exposure—United States, July 2016

Morb Mortal Wkly Rep

Brief Report
Zika virus pandemic—analysis of Facebook as a social media health information platform