Nutrition Under the Influence

Under the Influence: Health & Social Media

If technology were a bar and social media were an alcoholic beverage, the combination would definitely produce a spiked party punch. Not just any punch, but the kind of punch you might find at a fraternity party, an improvised combination of available grain-alcohol and a sugary sweet mixer to make everything easier going down. 

Not familiar with this college party drink? It has historical ties to WWII. And let’s just say a little goes a long way. If you aren’t careful with responsible drinking practices, you could be in a world of hurt the next morning. A terrible analogy for social media? Maybe, but I would argue that just like the party beverage, it doesn’t take much for everyone to be “under the influence” of the lure of social media and the information and misinformation that is spread on these platforms.

The majority of Americans have already had a serving or two from the social media punch bowl. Pew Research found that about 72% of Americans use social media in 2021 compared to the only 5% that used it in 2005. It’s not just the use of social media that has increased, but the actual time spent engaging with these various platforms—often daily and multiple times a day. 

According to data from statista, the average daily time spent on social media in the U.S. was about two hours and eight minutes. This is time that could be spent preparing a healthy meal, engaging in some form of physical activity or calling a friend. Instead we stare at our screens scrolling (only for a minute!), then look up and realize that 30 minutes of our precious lives just happened. 

We have access to information constantly and are digitally fed it by a complex algorithm curated specifically for each of us. Yet are these curated feeds providing accurate information, especially on nutrition, wellness and health? Who do you follow? What food “truth” are you being sold? The ever-changing nature of nutrition science along with data overload makes the information often overwhelming; that’s without even considering the outside influences of politics or the latest food documentary. The conundrum of where to get reliable information was already muddled prior to the introduction of social media. Now? It takes some real effort and even a little research to go beyond the feed and find the answers for yourself.

Fake news might have recently become popularized in our vocabulary but misinformation about food and wellness isn’t new. As a registered dietitian, I’m very familiar with the myriad of information available about food and our health. Debunking long-held or even new misperceptions isn’t easy. It takes relationship- building, mutual respect and evidenced-based resources. 

I debunk many common misperceptions with clients. This includes what those newly diagnosed with diabetes are permitted to eat. Fruit is often demonized and many people think they have to swear off carrots (“full of sugar”). Guess what? Fruit and even carrots can be part of a balanced eating pattern for someone managing diabetes!! It might look a little different for each person and that’s OK. We all have different needs, food preferences and budgets. 

There is no doubt that social media has the potential to positively impact our preventative health habits, including improved nutrition and health behaviors—if used effectively. Using social media isn’t widely divided by race or even income, according to recent Pew research. Most everyone has access to—and uses—social media. 

The accessibility is a gift but with it came the rapid rise of personal branding and influencers. Influencers impact behavior, including purchasing products. This lends itself to a business model of partnerships between companies and personal brands. Partnerships between individuals and brands is not a new concept—celebrity and athlete endorsements have a long history. But what is new: the “everyday person” becoming a lucrative brand, touting products and sharing information. It’s one thing to share a favorite clothing brand but what about recommendations on diet, wellness and healthcare information? It really depends on your source.  

Influencers Versus Influencer Experts

As a child of the 80’s, I remember the Surgeon General that served during part of my childhood, Dr. Charles Everett Koop. He was America’s 13th Surgeon General serving under President Ronald Reagan. I can’t really tell you the names of many of the Surgeon Generals that followed him over the years. The Associated Press reported he was the only surgeon general to become a household name.

Now, COVID may have changed this, with more public exposure to former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams. The point is not intended to be political, but to merely point out that not all experts are media savvy and just because one is media savvy does not mean they are an expert.

More healthcare providers are entering the world of social media. In 2019, the nonprofit Association for Healthcare Social Media (AHSM) was formed to advance public health by developing standards for social media use in healthcare. The organization provides educational resources for healthcare professionals and advocates for the use of social media as a public health tool to combat misinformation. The leadership team is composed of talented physicians that are very active on social media and committed to providing evidenced-based information to the public. 

In today’s oversaturated influencer culture, it’s important to differentiate between an influencer and influencer expert especially when it comes to where you receive nutrition and health guidance. Dawn Jackson Blatner RDN, CSSD author of The Flexitarian Diet and The Superfood Swap provides some insight on how to distinguish between the two. 

“First, there’s a difference between an influencer expert and an influencer! Influencer Expert is someone who offers information and ideas backed by a formal education and extensive training. An influencer is someone who encourages you to do something (influence you) without a formal education or training. Usually based on their own personal experience.” 

Media savvy healthcare leaders who are taking the reins of social media are vital to all fields, but improved consumer awareness on how to seek accurate information from credentialed professionals helps ensure that more of these voices are heard. 

AHSM also has great tips for interpreting social media (you can find their full list of tips here). Before repeating or reposting what we find online, we need to assess the credibility of posts by cross-checking information with other reputable sources, evaluating the comments, and checking with other professionals online and in-person.  

So the next time you decide to follow someone’s feed for nutrition or health information, stop, then evaluate the account and the person’s professional background—not just how entertaining the content appears to be. 

Keep in mind that just because your physician, nurse practitioner, ophthalmologist, physical therapist or dietitian isn’t active on social media, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t excellent sources of evidenced-based information. 

We all need to scroll and share information more responsibly online. We might all be a little under the influence of social media, but let’s not allow it to take over our critical thinking skills. 

And remember that when discussing your personal health needs, it’s always wise to start by creating a healthy dialogue with the healthcare providers who know you best.

This article was originally posted on The Well newsletter. Sign-up to receive all the latest issues of The Well for free.