The Impact of the Digital Age and Social Media on Connecting the Clubfoot Community

Abstract

Background Internet chat rooms played an important role in the late 1990s promoting the Ponseti method as the preferred initial treatment for congenital clubfoot. The social media boom has created multiple new methods for caregivers to seek support from a global community using a variety of platforms that are now easily available. This study assesses the reach of information shared across social media platforms about congenital clubfoot and analyzes topics most commonly discussed among members in these groups. Methodology Posts and pages across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok were evaluated to identify the top clubfoot-related hashtags and accounts. In addition, content themes were analyzed for posts across all platforms. Results There were 122 clubfoot-focused Facebook groups for parent support, and the five Facebook groups with the highest number of posts during the study period were found to frequently discuss the following topics: successful treatment stories, questions about casting, bracing, relapse, and commercial items compatible with clubfoot treatment. Twitter pages contained information about live webinars, educational resources for parents and providers, and the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on clubfoot treatment. A search across visual platforms using "#clubfoot" yielded over 59,000 cumulative posts on Instagram and over 34.7 million total views on TikTok. Conclusions Parents of clubfoot patients are increasingly connecting through digital social media platforms, relying on them for information on clubfoot, and utilizing them as a network for social support. Clubfoot physicians should be aware of this content on social media to promote education and discussion that addresses parent concerns, provides accurate information, and guides expectations.