1. In 2 paragraphs, explain the role of social media and its potential uses in health education. Use chapter 15, and at least one peer reviewed article or journal, to support your answer.
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2. See Aleena’s post below. Respond to her post, what do you like or not, explain. any suggestions? Use a peer reviewed article or journal to make your point
Social media is a powerful influencer on the young and old; it has become a pervasive part of society. With continuous exposure to messages from advertisements and television programs no one can deny the potential for media sources to influence today’s youth (Gilbert, Sawyer & McNeill 2015 p. 270). Although most of these platform is to entertain, they have the ability to convey messages about health issues. Media has become such an intricate part of society that it is no longer considered to be just a part of our culture, it is considered to be a culture on its own (Ziegler, 2007). Social media is a tool through which existing social networks communicate with each other in new and exciting ways. Consistent with the messages of Saul Alinsky (1971) and Paulo Freire (1973), who showed us that activism is most successful when organizers listen to and engage existing communities, social media offers new venues for such engagement. Gaining the support of key members of those individuals’ social networks into action, because individuals become involved in collective action through their personal connections (Della Porta and Diani 2006). Before you implement your online strategy, you need strong, clear, direct messages targeted toward your audiences. This should be part of your existing communications strategy (Dorfman, 2010). Once you pick your online strategy, it is essential to pick the right metrics to match your strategy so you know if your methods are working. You want to know who your audience is, who access your Facebook page and follow your tweets, and who takes action on your website. You want to know which individuals are engaged and how they engage with your online content. the deeper the relationships that you have built with your audience, the more your efforts will pay off (Minkler, 2012 p. 271-277).
In conclusion, Social media is certainly a great tool to disseminate pertinent health information to the public. It is used by millions of people all over the world. Large organizations like hospitals, CDC etc. use it deliver messages to their audience on a daily basis on health issues that is plaguing society. Many people extract information daily on health issues on medias such as youtube and Facebook to use to their advantage. The strategy is to use the right information to pull the audience closer to get the message across.
