Social Media and Global Health: A Double-Edged Sword

Social media can be a source of both reliable health information and harmful misinformation and lies. With the number of people consuming social media expected to exceed 6 billion by 2027, the challenge for the global health community is how to maximize the many benefits of social media for communicating health information while controlling its substantial adverse effects. Led by DGHI adjunct professor Jonathan Quick and Duke student Zain Jafar, the authors of a new paper on social media's impact will discuss the promise and peril of these powerful channels and lessons for global health researchers and professionals on how to use them effectively.