About this Research Topic
The current Research Topic will focus on studies examining the effectiveness of the use of social influencers to promote health behavior among minors and young adults. Mounting evidence has shown that people, in particular minors and young adults, are susceptible to the promotional activities of influencers on platforms such as Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. Most studies have been focusing on the promotional activities of influencers that are related to marketing strategies. However, social influencers could also play an important role in social marketing strategies, such as promoting healthier diets, increased physical activity, less substance use, less smoking, safer sex, more and better quality of sleep, more conscious consumption of screen time, health care seeking, increased adherence to medical treatment, and other health-related behavior.
Until now, limited knowledge exists on how health interventions through social influencers can be implemented to effectively and efficiently promote important health behavior among minors and young adults (8-35 years). Minors and young adults face certain health risks, such as overweight and obesity, sexually transmitted diseases, and substance abuse. Moreover, the current pandemic, and its consequences, may lead to negative psychological health outcomes, such as increased loneliness and reduced well-being. Considering minors and young adults consume their information mainly through social media platforms, it is highly important to get a better understanding of how this particular group is affected by social media influencers.
Examples of important research questions that this Research Topic hopes to address include (but are not limited to):
• Which promotion techniques for health behavior do social influencers use and how do these affect people?
• Are some groups, in particular youth, more susceptible to social influencers than other groups?
• How has the use of digital and social media affected how health behavior is promoted to youth and young adults?
• What is the impact of existing governmental programs to stimulate health behavior via social influencers, for example during the COVID-19 crisis, and what is the potential impact of these programs?
The scope of the Research Topic is the effects of promotional activities of social influencers to conduct health behavior among minors and young adults (8-35 years). Our main interest lies in, but is not limited to, experimental research (e.g., clinical trials, Randomized Controlled Trials), with a randomized control and intervention group, whereby one or more of the following health behaviors is examined:
- Dietary intake
- Physical activity
- Substance use
- Smoking
- Safe sex
- Quality of sleep
- Screen time
- Health care seeking,
- Adherence to medical treatment
- Gambling behavior
- Antisocial behavior
- and other health-related behavior
Until now, limited knowledge exists on how health interventions through social influencers can be implemented to effectively and efficiently promote important health behavior among minors and young adults (8-35 years). Minors and young adults face certain health risks, such as overweight and obesity, sexually transmitted diseases, and substance abuse. Moreover, the current pandemic, and its consequences, may lead to negative psychological health outcomes, such as increased loneliness and reduced well-being. Considering minors and young adults consume their information mainly through social media platforms, it is highly important to get a better understanding of how this particular group is affected by social media influencers.
Examples of important research questions that this Research Topic hopes to address include (but are not limited to):
• Which promotion techniques for health behavior do social influencers use and how do these affect people?
• Are some groups, in particular youth, more susceptible to social influencers than other groups?
• How has the use of digital and social media affected how health behavior is promoted to youth and young adults?
• What is the impact of existing governmental programs to stimulate health behavior via social influencers, for example during the COVID-19 crisis, and what is the potential impact of these programs?
The scope of the Research Topic is the effects of promotional activities of social influencers to conduct health behavior among minors and young adults (8-35 years). Our main interest lies in, but is not limited to, experimental research (e.g., clinical trials, Randomized Controlled Trials), with a randomized control and intervention group, whereby one or more of the following health behaviors is examined:
- Dietary intake
- Physical activity
- Substance use
- Smoking
- Safe sex
- Quality of sleep
- Screen time
- Health care seeking,
- Adherence to medical treatment
- Gambling behavior
- Antisocial behavior
- and other health-related behavior
Keywords: Social Influencers, Health and Well-being, Effectiveness, Youth, Behavior, Social Media
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
