Social media can be a useful resource during a pandemic to quickly disseminate information on diagnosis, treatment and follow-up protocols; however, these same tools can amplify an infodemic that fuels unfounded panic and inhibits global response efforts.
Effective crisis and risk communication strategies are integral in alleviating anxiety and panic, and encouraging sustainable protective measures. Both the quality and dissemination methods for shared information play a crucial role.
1. Share Updates and Protocols
Social media provides an effective tool for dispelling rumors and misinformation, particularly during periods when official sources do not provide updates, as misconceptions tend to spread rapidly (Abd-Alrazaq et al., 2020). HCWs should keep tabs on misperceptions that emerge so as to take swift measures against them as soon as they occur.
HCWs should avoid publishing anything on social media that mocks or scorns the COVID-19 crisis, as such posts may cause alarm among individuals already vulnerable to health concerns and drive them towards seeking out help-seeking behaviors out of proportion to their actual risk; such behaviors include falsely representing themselves at medical centers or general practitioners as well as excessive requests for testing.
HCWs should also take part in social media conversations in order to encourage the public and local communities to adopt isolation protocols, although some HCWs may find participating unsettling due to time drain or distraction it may involve. Therefore, a system should be in place that ensures only approved healthcare-related organizations can publish content during any crises on social media.
2. Encourage Discussion
Social media encompasses an array of user-driven platforms that facilitate sharing engaging content and dialogue among a larger audience. These can be utilized for various purposes, from sharing personal stories and ideas, to professional information gathering and networking opportunities.
Information-disseminating platforms may be immensely valuable during times of emergency, but their fast pace of dissemination may also amplify false or inaccurate reports. This is especially true when users share or retweet content; once something goes viral it could spread hundreds or even thousands of times quickly, creating confusion or harming healthcare professionals’ work.
As social media has the power to be an invaluable asset during a COVID-19 pandemic, its use should be utilized carefully so as not to cause panic or unnecessary fear among members of the public. If inaccurate or outdated information is distributed and shared via social media it could lead to panicked reactions which prevent them from adopting protective behaviors and becoming resilient against future outbreaks.
Accurate information can thwart educational efforts and promote best practices, leading to undesirable consequences such as inadequate isolation procedures or too restrictive travel restrictions.
In order to mitigate such problems, healthcare professionals should use social media channels such as Facebook/Twitter/X, Instagram, WeChat and TikTok to present verified facts about pandemic outbreaks and encourage dialogue about them. By creating communication platforms that foster discussion on pandemic topics and decrease misinformation spread by disinformation campaigns, healthcare professionals can help prevent their spread while simultaneously supporting implementation of proper isolation procedures.
Healthcare professionals can reduce anxiety and fear in the general population by disseminating accurate, timely information as well as dispelling common misconceptions regarding diseases. This can be achieved using clear language that communicates how a disease works, its risk, and protective measures available for prevention.
Vox recently shared an infographic displaying risk in three categories, from lowest (living alone at home), moderate risk (outdoor activities) and high risk (indoor gatherings). This approach helps alleviate fear and confusion while simultaneously promoting best practice recommendations.
3. Create a Community
Many individuals in our communities are experiencing feelings of isolation and fear during this trying time, but communication from law enforcement and emergency response agencies can provide some much-needed reassurance by sharing factual, fact-based information. Furthermore, these organizations can also create a sense of community by posting photos and videos of their efforts online – something many police departments regularly do, making this strategy especially valuable during a pandemic outbreak.
Social media offers numerous advantages, but some healthcare workers (HCWs) express concerns over its use during a pandemic. Their concerns include misinformation spreading rapidly across platforms like Twitter or receiving untrue medical advice from unqualified sources or no professional oversight over health-related content being posted to these social networks.
Social media remains an effective means for healthcare workers (HCWs) to communicate, educate patients, and raise awareness. HCWs’ use of social media has been shown to improve interpersonal communications and raise morale across various settings; furthermore, research updates may become easier to keep up with leading them toward improved job skills and quicker knowledge transfer.
People crave relationships, so physical separation measures such as COVID-19 quarantines can be distressing. But technology companies and the government have responded effectively by creating online communities which ease this discomfort – becoming an invaluable resource in response to COVID-19 crisis.
Businesses must assess current social conditions and moods to develop an effective information dissemination plan during a pandemic. They should focus on three components of this process: planning, review, and reaction. By adhering to these guidelines they can ensure their efforts have the greatest possible effect during this critical moment. Breakthrough ACTION has developed a technical brief that provides an overview of steps programs can take when developing an overall social media strategy to disseminate COVID-19 updates while combatting misinformation.
4. Share Resources
Sharing authentic social media sharing is one of the best ways to get your message across to a wide audience, and one way of encouraging it is to create a resource page with all handles, hashtags and ways of reaching people – Knitting Universe did this for their upcoming show and made it easy for attendees to spread information about it with others.
Social media refers to platforms that enable user-driven creation and sharing of content for virtual communities and networks, often designed to connect individuals on personal, professional or societal levels. Social media tools also can create dialogue among audiences while amplifying information; their insights may prove particularly helpful when building product roadmaps that delight.