The media, especially social networks can have a very important impact on health.
- Press, television, radio or social networks: the more the message is validated by professionals in the field of health, the greater the impact will be.
- The testimony of a person who has experienced a health problem reinforces identification and awareness of the need to act.
- Some social networks, because of their algorithm, can relay certain health promotion information to the background and prevent access to certain content to the detriment of populations.
If we are all very influenced by the media, whatever they are, it is because they respond to a human need: that of belonging to a community by identifying, or not, with others. This is why all campaigns aimed at improving health must call on experts and people directly or indirectly affected by the problem.
Using the media to relay information
If, of course, a government or an organization can use the press, television, radio, or social networks to relay a message, certain techniques will make it possible to target populations. This is the case, for example, of the way in which the message is delivered, whether it is a video format, an article, or a website, of which the public concerned must be targeted upstream of the information campaign.
Similarly, the more the message is validated by professionals in the field of health, for example by being relayed and supported by expert professionals, the greater the impact will be. Some media also choose to organize a debate raising the different aspects of a problem or its management in order to respond to existing contradictions.
The implication of testimonials
To support the change in behavior of populations, the testimony of a person who has experienced the health problem directly or that of his relatives can reinforce the identification and awareness of the need to act.
This is the case, for example, of campaigns against road accidents or aimed at HIV, which involve health professionals on the subject, but also patients affected by the disease to arouse empathy and ‘stock.
The peculiarity of social networks
Some social networks, because of their algorithm, can relay certain health promotion information to the background and prevent access to certain content to the detriment of populations. This is why their use by expert professionals, using the codes of this type of media, often has a much greater impact because the message is relayed by a professional who is trusted by users.
Find out more: “Pop & Psy” by Jean-Victor Blanc.