Social media and amblyopia: evaluating content and intent on Instagram

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Public Health
• Digital Health

Background:

• Social media platforms like Instagram are increasingly used by the public for health information.
• Adults with children in the amblyogenic age range may seek amblyopia information on Instagram.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the quality of amblyopia information shared on Instagram.
• To evaluate the sources and reliability of amblyopia content on the platform.

Main Methods:

• A review of the top 200 publicly available Instagram posts mentioning amblyopia.
• Application of the Currency, Reliability, Authority, and Purpose (CRAP) test to score information quality.
• Analysis of post sources, including healthcare providers and businesses.

Main Results:

• 51% of reviewed posts originated from businesses, while only 25% were from healthcare providers.
• Posts from businesses generally exhibited lower quality compared to those from medical professionals.
• A small percentage (3%) of posts were specifically from pediatric ophthalmologists.

Conclusions:

• Instagram presents a significant opportunity for public health education regarding amblyopia.
• Enhancing the quality and accuracy of amblyopia information on Instagram is crucial.
• Medical professionals should leverage Instagram to disseminate reliable, unbiased eye health data.