The Experiences of Young Adults’ use of Social Media for Health-Related Information

Abstract

Young adults use different social media applications to obtain health-related information. They use the information to make healthy behavioural changes. Concerns over the effectiveness and trustworthiness of health information on social media have been highlighted in research studies. However, there is limited research on this phenomenon in South Africa. In addition, the prevalent studies tend to take a more quantitative approach. The aim of the current study was thus to explore how young people experience the use of social media to find health-related information and how they use the health information to guide their health-related behaviours. To achieve the aim of this study, a qualitative research approach and an interpretive phenomenological research design were utilised. Seven in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with students from a local South African university. The data emanating from the interviews were analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). The findings indicate that the use of social media for health-related information is related to the desire for appearance control among young adults. Young adults are exposed to unqualified, unverified health information sources on social media and as a result, many of the healthy behavioural changes they act on are not effective. Based on the literature and findings of this research project recommendations for digital health literacy interventions were made.