The Role of Technology and Social Media Use in Human Papillomavirus Awareness: A Comparison Across Four Age Groups

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a significant public health crisis across various age groups. While technology and social media are crucial for disseminating health information, their potential remains underutilized due to varying levels of familiarity and comfort with digital platforms among different age groups. This study examines whether using technology and social media for health-related purposes predicts HPV awareness across different age demographics in the United States.

This cross-sectional study employed two datasets from the National Cancer Institute's Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 5, Cycle 1, and Cycle 2, from 2017 and 2018). The datasets were merged and analyzed, with a sample size of 6,789. Weighted binary logistic regression analyses were performed across age groups to evaluate how technology and social media use for health purposes predicted HPV awareness.

The analysis revealed that the use of technology for health-related purposes was associated with higher HPV awareness across all age groups: 18-34 years, 35-49 years, 50-64 years, and 65 years and older. Conversely, social media use for health information was significantly associated with increased HPV awareness only among younger adults (18-34 years).

This study highlights the need to effectively integrate technology and social media to enhance HPV awareness among both younger and older adults with age variations. Leveraging these platforms for behavioral health interventions could promote better health practices and increase HPV awareness across all age groups.