Social Media Posts: A Key Influencer of Health‑Related Behavior among Nigerians

Abstract

To the Editor,
Social media is a widely known source of information on issues pertaining to health. [1,2] Between January 12, 2020, and February 21, 2020, we conducted a randomized online survey to obtain information from the Nigerian public on the impacts of health‑related posts they see on social media on their behavior. The study tool used was an e‑questionnaire (Google Form). Participation in the survey was completely voluntary, anonymous, and harmless. We also obtained approval to conduct the survey from the Research Committee, Department of Community Health, Aminu Musa Habib College of Health Science and Technology, Yauri, Nigeria.

A total of 235 Nigerian adults aged 18–45 years participated in the survey. All, except one (who had primary school education), of them had tertiary and/or secondary school education. The majority (89.4%, 211/235) of them reported that they had been
influenced in one way or the other by what they see on social media; of which 79.6% (168/211) of them identified that they were enlightened, through social media, on issues pertaining to health matters. Furthermore, 68.7% (145/211) of them identified that they have made major health decisions based on what they saw on social media. Virtually, all (97.2%, 205/211) of those respondents who reported that they have ever been influenced by what they see on social media indicated that they were happy to engage themselves with health‑related posts on social media, of which 41.5% (85/205) of them found pictures to be more engaging [Table 1]. From our survey findings, we observed that posts on social media are sources of information that has the capacity to influence the formation, modification, and termination of health behavior among Nigerians.

The social media community is a virtual world free for allwhere people share, express, or exchange ideas, information, expressions, and feelings. Pertinently, on social media platforms, myriads of health‑related information fly around, of which some of those health‑related information are pro‑health and on safe practices while some are unsafe and misleading.[1,2] This shows that health‑related posts on social media are not completely reliable.