Real-Time Communication: Creating a Path to COVID-19 Public Health Activism in Adolescents Using Social Media.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Communication Studies
• Adolescent Development

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic created unique challenges for adolescents due to reduced in-person social interactions.
• Social media is a prevalent platform for adolescents, offering potential for health promotion and activism.
• Current utilization of social media by public health organizations to reach adolescents is insufficient.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify current social media use and communication gaps for adolescents regarding public health.
• To propose recommendations for enhancing social media risk communication for adolescents.
• To leverage social media for adolescent health and public health activism during crises.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of risk communication strategies.
• Analysis of adolescent development and human-computer interaction literature.
• Identification of current efforts and existing gaps in social media communication.

Main Results:

• Public health organizations underutilize social media platforms for adolescent engagement.
• There are significant opportunities to improve risk communication targeted at adolescents via social media.
• Adolescents can be empowered through social media for health promotion and activism.

Conclusions:

• Strategic use of social media is crucial for public health outreach to adolescents.
• Recommendations are provided to optimize social media risk communication for adolescents during health crises.
• Enhancing social media engagement can bolster adolescent health and public health activism.