Social Media and Health Trends: Analyzing Public Perception

Nakaziya Obutuzi G.

Faculty of Medicine Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

The integration of social media into daily life has revolutionized the way health information is shared, consumed, and perceived. This paper examines the dynamic interplay between social media platforms and public perception of health trends, focusing on how digital communication tools shape health behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge dissemination. Through an examination of leading platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, the study investigates how platform-specific features affect health communication and user engagement. The paper also analyzes the implications of health misinformation, the amplification of viral health trends, and the psychological effects of constant exposure to health-related content. Cross-cultural perspectives, particularly the responses to the plastic straw ban and Panda mascot trend in the U.S. and China, provide insight into consumer behavior and cultural framing. This multifaceted analysis reveals the potential of social media as both a facilitator of positive health discourse and a channel for harmful misinformation, emphasizing the need for improved digital literacy and strategic public health communication in the digital age.

Keywords: Social Media, Public Health Communication, Health Misinformation, Digital Literacy, Health Trends, Mental Health and Social Media, TikTok Health Campaigns.

CITE AS: Nakaziya Obutuzi G. (2025). Social Media and Health Trends: Analyzing Public Perception. Newport International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 6(2):163-170 https://doi.org/10.59298/NIJRMS/2025/6.2.163170