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Chapter 13 Instagram and health

  • Sofie Vranken , Robyn Vanherle , Kaitlin Fitzgerald , Femke Geusens and Kathleen Beullens
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Health, Media, and Communication
This chapter is in the book Health, Media, and Communication

Abstract

Over the past few years, Instagram has become integrated into people’s dayto- day lives. The current chapter provides an overview of the ways wherein Instagram can shape individuals’ health-related outcomes. More specifically, we discuss how exposure to and self-sharing of messages promoting healthy (e.g., healthy eating, body positivity) and risk-taking behaviors (e.g., substance use), can impact Instagram users’ health-related perceptions and eventually their behaviors. First, we zoom in on the platform’s unique characteristics that shape the content of health-related messages. Afterward, we discuss which types of health-related messages people encounter from different socialization agents (i.e., peers, social media influencers, and health organizations), the reasons why these messages are appealing, and how exposure to them may shape the recipients’ own health-related behaviors. Considering that Instagram is not only a platform whereon users can view content of others but also self-share content, we briefly discuss the effects of users’ own health-related messages. Finally, we formulate guidelines for health practitioners who seek to rely on Instagram as a tool for health communication and provide suggestions for research.

Abstract

Over the past few years, Instagram has become integrated into people’s dayto- day lives. The current chapter provides an overview of the ways wherein Instagram can shape individuals’ health-related outcomes. More specifically, we discuss how exposure to and self-sharing of messages promoting healthy (e.g., healthy eating, body positivity) and risk-taking behaviors (e.g., substance use), can impact Instagram users’ health-related perceptions and eventually their behaviors. First, we zoom in on the platform’s unique characteristics that shape the content of health-related messages. Afterward, we discuss which types of health-related messages people encounter from different socialization agents (i.e., peers, social media influencers, and health organizations), the reasons why these messages are appealing, and how exposure to them may shape the recipients’ own health-related behaviors. Considering that Instagram is not only a platform whereon users can view content of others but also self-share content, we briefly discuss the effects of users’ own health-related messages. Finally, we formulate guidelines for health practitioners who seek to rely on Instagram as a tool for health communication and provide suggestions for research.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface to Handbooks of Communication Science series V
  3. Contents IX
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Section 1: Message senders
  6. Chapter 1 Creating trust in health organizations 11
  7. Chapter 2 Creating trust and understanding in doctor–patient relationships 31
  8. Chapter 3 Social media influencers for health promotion 49
  9. Chapter 4 Celebrity health narratives and the celebrity sick-scape 69
  10. Section 2: Message content
  11. Chapter 5 Fear appeals in health communication 91
  12. Chapter 6 Messaging and affect processing 109
  13. Chapter 7 Narratives in health communication 127
  14. Chapter 8 Entertainment-Education in the new media landscape: Stimulating creative engagement in online communities for social and behavioral change 147
  15. Chapter 9 The communication of uncertainty in health 169
  16. Chapter 10 Social norms in health communication 187
  17. Chapter 11 The impact of argument strength in health communication 213
  18. Chapter 12 Behavioral change techniques in influencers’ social media messages 231
  19. Section 3: Medium types
  20. Chapter 13 Instagram and health 251
  21. Chapter 14 Twitter and health communication 269
  22. Chapter 15 Fantasy, facts and fun: Digital health games for impact and implementation 287
  23. Chapter 16 Chatbots for health communication 309
  24. Section 4: Message recipients
  25. Chapter 17 Information seeking, scanning, and processing 335
  26. Chapter 18 Health literacy and information processing 355
  27. Chapter 19 Language difficulties: Healthcare provider–migrant patient communication 375
  28. Chapter 20 Cognitive biases in depression: Implications for help-seeking messaging 391
  29. Chapter 21 Creating active involvement interventions to effectively reduce adolescent health risk behaviors 411
  30. Section 5: Contemporary challenges
  31. Chapter 22 Infodemics and health information overload 433
  32. Chapter 23 Fake news and misinformation 453
  33. Chapter 24 Health communication on social media during a crisis 469
  34. Section 6: Case studies
  35. Chapter 25 Exploring communication in multi-level strategies for promoting healthy diets: A South African case study 491
  36. Chapter 26 Physical activity and citizen science: Two case studies from Flanders (Belgium) 505
  37. List of contributors 527
  38. Index 539
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110775426-014

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface to Handbooks of Communication Science series V
  3. Contents IX
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Section 1: Message senders
  6. Chapter 1 Creating trust in health organizations 11
  7. Chapter 2 Creating trust and understanding in doctor–patient relationships 31
  8. Chapter 3 Social media influencers for health promotion 49
  9. Chapter 4 Celebrity health narratives and the celebrity sick-scape 69
  10. Section 2: Message content
  11. Chapter 5 Fear appeals in health communication 91
  12. Chapter 6 Messaging and affect processing 109
  13. Chapter 7 Narratives in health communication 127
  14. Chapter 8 Entertainment-Education in the new media landscape: Stimulating creative engagement in online communities for social and behavioral change 147
  15. Chapter 9 The communication of uncertainty in health 169
  16. Chapter 10 Social norms in health communication 187
  17. Chapter 11 The impact of argument strength in health communication 213
  18. Chapter 12 Behavioral change techniques in influencers’ social media messages 231
  19. Section 3: Medium types
  20. Chapter 13 Instagram and health 251
  21. Chapter 14 Twitter and health communication 269
  22. Chapter 15 Fantasy, facts and fun: Digital health games for impact and implementation 287
  23. Chapter 16 Chatbots for health communication 309
  24. Section 4: Message recipients
  25. Chapter 17 Information seeking, scanning, and processing 335
  26. Chapter 18 Health literacy and information processing 355
  27. Chapter 19 Language difficulties: Healthcare provider–migrant patient communication 375
  28. Chapter 20 Cognitive biases in depression: Implications for help-seeking messaging 391
  29. Chapter 21 Creating active involvement interventions to effectively reduce adolescent health risk behaviors 411
  30. Section 5: Contemporary challenges
  31. Chapter 22 Infodemics and health information overload 433
  32. Chapter 23 Fake news and misinformation 453
  33. Chapter 24 Health communication on social media during a crisis 469
  34. Section 6: Case studies
  35. Chapter 25 Exploring communication in multi-level strategies for promoting healthy diets: A South African case study 491
  36. Chapter 26 Physical activity and citizen science: Two case studies from Flanders (Belgium) 505
  37. List of contributors 527
  38. Index 539
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