Digital nursing: from misinformation to protagonism in public health

Social media has transformed health communication on a global scale, becoming an integral part of the lives of billions of people connected to the internet. More than 5.5 billion individuals worldwide already use the internet, and a large proportion of this contingent regularly accesses social media, where they often seek and receive information about health, news, and daily guidance, which broadens access but also intensifies the risks of infodemic, recognized by the World Health Organization as a threat to public health. This context opens space for nursing professionals to act as credible voices and agents of social trust. This article discusses the digital influence of nursing and advocates for its strategic role in combating misinformation and promoting health literacy.

Instagram is the main platform used for educational, emotional, and motivational content. The audience expresses bonds of representation, support, and inspiration. However, the lack of regulation and the precarious nature of digital work reveal ethical and institutional vulnerabilities.

Digital nursing is a strategic resource for public health. Ignoring its representativeness means leaving society hostage to misinformation. It is urgent to recognize, support, and qualify this presence, integrating it into communication and health promotion policies, transforming reach into care, influence into science, and representativeness into social trust.