Using social media analysis to study population dietary behaviours: A scoping review

Abstract

Background: The rapid adoption and sustained use of social media globally has provided researchers with access to unprecedented quantities of low-latency data at minimal costs. This may be of particular interest to nutrition research because food is frequently posted about and discussed on social media platforms. This scoping review investigates the ways in which social media is being used to understand population food consumption, attitudes and behaviours. Methods: The peer-reviewed literature was searched from 2003 to 2021 using four electronic databases. Results: The review identified 71 eligible studies from 25 countries. Two-thirds (n = 47) were published within the last 5 years. The USA had the highest research output (31%, n = 22) and Twitter was the most used platform (41%, n = 29). A diverse range of dataset sizes were used, with some studies relying on manual techniques to collect and analyse data, whereas others required the use of advanced software technology. Most studies were conducted by disciplines outside health, with only two studies (3%) being conducted by nutritionists. Conclusions: It appears the development of methodological and ethical frameworks as well as partnerships between experts in nutrition and information technology may be required to advance the field in nutrition research. Moving beyond traditional methods of dietary data collection may prove social media as a useful adjunct to inform recommended dietary practices and food policies.