Dissemination of Information on Stigmatized and Risky Health Behaviors on Social Media

Abstract

While social media are heralded as an important space for seeking and sharing health-related information, social media use has nevertheless been shown to link to risky health behaviors, including illegal drug and substance use, excessive alcohol consumption, disordered eating, unprotected sex, and self-harm. In this chapter, we start by listing some common features of social media platforms and providing examples showing that social media use can pose risks pertaining to health information sharing and seeking. We discuss why people tend to share information regarding risky behaviors on social media by examining theories that have been used to understand the mechanisms driving such behavior. We then present recent research documenting what contents surrounding risky and stigmatized health issues are shared on social media and the characteristics of those messages. Negative consequences and outcomes associated with such behavior are discussed in light of social and psychological theories. Our chapter concludes with theoretical and practice implications.