New Media Studies

Networked Health: Exploring the Instagramification of Health

yousef khojir

Volume 10, Issue 40 , December 2024, , Pages 158-127

https://doi.org/10.22054/nms.2025.82066.1758

Abstract

This research seeks to identify the functions and challenges of Instagram usage in the healthcare sector, as viewed by academic elites and experts. The research approach is qualitative ... Read More This research seeks to identify the functions and challenges of Instagram usage in the healthcare sector, as viewed by academic elites and experts. The research approach is qualitative in nature, and thematic analysis is used to process the data collected through semi-structured interviews. King’s coding (1998) is applied for data analysis. For this study, academic elites in the fields of health communication and information technology were chosen as participants. The criteria for selecting academic elites involved a minimum of a 10-year teaching or research experience in the areas of new media and health communication. Health specialists such as doctors or healthcare professionals using Instagram professionally in their specialized activities were also included in the study. The research employed a purposive sampling method and conducted 20 interviews. The findings demonstrated that the applications of Instagram in promoting users' health encompass increasing individuals' health literacy, providing information about diseases and medication side effects and advantages, accessing medical and health-related content, and facilitating online consultations and communication between doctors and patients. The negative effects of Instagram usage in the healthcare sector encompass issues such as addiction to Instagram, the spread of misinformation and fake news, promotion of self-medication which discourages doctor consultations, resistance to medical advice, potential for increased mental health issues, and excessive reliance on health and medical content, which may not necessarily be accurate. Participants expressed belief that monitoring and creating reliable pages in the field of medicine and health, furnishing reliable information and content on health matters, guiding individuals, building trust, and ensuring efficient access to Instagram can potentially contribute to establishing Instagram as a reliable reference in the healthcare sector.Extended Abstract:With the growing popularity of Instagram and its increasing presence in people's daily lives, users of the platform are increasingly recognizing its potential for enhancing their health and well-being. This study aims to identify and evaluate how Instagram impacts the health of Iranian users.Materials and Methods:This research adopts a qualitative approach and utilizes Theme analysis. Semi-structured interviews were employed to gather information, with King (1998) coding applied for data processing. The selected participants for this study are academic elites in the field of health communication and health professionals.Discussion and Results:The findings indicate that Instagram can be used to improve the health of its users. It can increase individuals' knowledge and awareness in the field of health, provide information about diseases and the side effects and benefits of medications, and provide access to medical and health-related materials. Instagram can also facilitate online communication and consultation between doctors and patients, contributing to improved health and well-being. The negative aspects of utilizing Instagram in the healthcare sector are also acknowledged. Addiction and excessive dependence on health content can occur, potentially leading to addiction and unhealthy behavior. False information and unreliable information can create confusion and ambiguity in decision-making regarding health. Self-medication and neglecting medical visits can occur when individuals over-rely on health content online. Resistance to medical advice, mental and emotional problems, and ambiguity in health decisions may arise as a result of unfounded trust in health-related content.Participants emphasize the importance of managing and creating reliable pages in the field of medicine and health. Reliable health information and content, with expert guidance and accurate information, contribute to creating reliable sources within Instagram. Establishing trust and facilitating quick access to Instagram can elevate the platform's status in the healthcare sector, making it a valuable reference. In the realm of network health, social networks' technical and structural capabilities highlight their ability to significantly impact the health of users and society at large. This is because Instagram's features make users increasingly drawn to it, particularly its 24/7 availability and access to the latest updates on medical and health information. Additionally, the interaction between doctors and patients adds to the platform's appeal. One of the primary motives driving users towards Instagram is their interest in health-related topics.Instagram's role in the healthcare system enhances user management, especially in pre-surgery preparation, surgery, and recovery periods. The aesthetic appeal and unique features of Instagram, including video creation and image sharing, are particularly effective for documenting and illustrating medical concerns, making the platform appealing to health-conscious users. The benefits of Instagram for users' health are manifold. It serves as an accessible source of health information and education, delivering news and health-related content at minimal cost. Instagram's diverse functions for user health include promoting health and health education, facilitating news in the health sector, providing health treatment resources, facilitating online health consultations, fostering a culture of attention to overall wellness (mental, social, and spiritual health), encouraging adherence to health guidelines and treatment plans, mobilizing support networks, and fostering partnerships in the healthcare field.The impact of misusing Instagram by users, particularly in regards to control of the medical conditions, carries both positive and negative consequences. While it offers free, extensive visibility and engagement opportunities for healthcare providers like doctors, doctors, clinics and hospitals, as well as promoting healthful behaviors, the dissemination of false and unsubstantiated health information poses risks. This can lead to self-medication of users and neglecting doctor's advice, fostering addiction to Instagram, and consequently causing serious mental, physical, and social disorders and severe mental health issues. This research highlights an overlooked aspect - the emergence of Instagram as a platform where counterfeit drugs and false prescriptions are offered, effectively functioning as an online black market. The findings highlight the significance of trust in promoting Instagram as a reliable source of health information for users. Trust has emerged as a critical factor in Instagram's credibility, particularly when considering the potential risks associated with fake content and false health promotions.Conclusions:Trust is built by offering accurate and informative content, while minimizing political bias. Additionally, the information must be engaging to capture the user's attention. This involves monitoring popular health-related pages and their information dissemination. The goal is to prevent any negative consequences for the healthcare system caused by misleading content. Content producers in this field should possess expertise in both the realm of health and the virtual space, with a deep understanding of health journalism. Utilizing well-known figures in the healthcare industry can help attract and retain followers. Previous research in this area demonstrates a practical approach to leveraging Instagram as a tool for health promotion. The concept of Instagram referencing can be effectively utilized to enhance the health system, as stated by Khojir (1402). Proper understanding of Instagram's capabilities and limitations is crucial to maximizing its positive impact and promoting improvements in the health sector. The study findings indicate that strengthening the authority of social networks, particularly Instagram, can significantly contribute to improving the healthcare system as a whole.

The role of social network (Instagram) in the formation of citizenship identity(Case study of citizens, Isfahan city

Najmeh Karimian Talekhoncheh; Nafiseh Sadr Arahami; Akram Hamidian; Farahnaz Mostafavi Kohnegi

Volume 9, Issue 33 , May 2023, , Pages 492-455

https://doi.org/10.22054/nms.2022.67251.1382

Abstract

AbstractToday, the concept of citizenship as one of the concepts of the modern world guides sustainable human interactions. Citizenship represents the relationship between the individual ... Read More AbstractToday, the concept of citizenship as one of the concepts of the modern world guides sustainable human interactions. Citizenship represents the relationship between the individual and society in the form of rights and responsibilities. On the one hand, solving urban problems, urbanization crises and improving the behavior of citizens, the existence of a suitable culture of citizenship and urbanization, such as urban responsibility; Lawfulness of citizens, and normality are among the patterns of urbanization and these categories are among the necessities of urban life. So all the components of urban life, considering the role of culture in the social relations of the city, urban facilities, transportation system, the body of the city, and urban users, should try to create the necessary balance. The basic point in explaining the studies related to citizenship is that citizenship cannot be considered only from the perspective of law, or only from the perspective of the relationship between citizenship and the government, investigating the issue of identity, with the advancement of technology, it has found different ways to manifest itself. Currently, various services and applications allow their users to share their daily life and identity in different ways with their mobile phones. Since identity is a variable thing that changes during the social experience and with the formation of new communication methods, new social networks can build people's identities by providing new possibilities. But it seems that Instagram, as one of the largest virtual communities of Iranians, is an important identity-building tool that has led to the creation of an interactive space between users and has influenced their citizenship and national identity as a dynamic phenomenon. According to the statistics of the National Management Center for the Development of Modern Social Networks, more than half of the Iranian people have access to social networks, including Instagram. This capacity of communication and information created regarding modern social networks including Instagram has brought effects and consequences in the identity of Iranian citizens, including Isfahan city, and the basis of the form of the question at the beginning of the present research is: What role does the Instagram social network play? Do they play a role in the citizenship identity of the citizens of Isfahan City?ContextThe present research was done to determine the effect of using the Instagram social network on the citizenship identity of Isfahani citizens. This study was conducted among all citizens of Isfahan province and the impact of using social networks on citizenship identity was measured.GoalThe purpose of this study is to determine the effect of using the Instagram social network on the citizenship identity of Isfahani citizens.MethodThis research is practical in terms of purpose, descriptive in nature, correlational in terms of the relationship between research variables, and cross-sectional in terms of time. The statistical population of the present study includes all the citizens of Isfahan who are Instagram users in 2019. The sample size was 384 people according to the use of Cochran's unlimited formula. The sampling method in this research was available sampling. In order to collect data, the citizen identity questionnaire of Sadr Arahami et al. was used and the content validity of the questionnaires was confirmed by the supervisor and several subject experts, and the face validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by several members of the statistical community. The reliability of the questionnaires was calculated using Cronbach's alpha for the Instagram social network usage questionnaire (α = 0.799) and for the citizenship identity questionnaire (α = 0.847). In order to investigate research hypotheses, descriptive and inferential statistics including Pearson's correlation coefficient, structural equations with SPSS software were used.FindingsIn the present research, Meh was conducted to investigate the impact of the social network (Instagram) on the citizenship identity of the citizens of Isfahan City. The results of the research showed that there is a significant relationship between the use of the Instagram social network on the enjoyment of the citizenship rights of Isfahani citizens and also the use of the Instagram social network has an effect on the self-identity of Isfahani citizens. There is a significant relationship between the use of the Instagram social network and the citizenship awareness of Isfahani citizens, and the use of the Instagram social network has an effect on the priority of collective interests over individual citizens of Isfahani. There is a relationship between the use of the Instagram social network and the civic commitment to the country and the citizens of Isfahan.ResultsThe results of the research showed that there is a significant relationship between the use of the social network Instagram and the enjoyment of citizenship rights, and the use of the social network Instagram has a significant positive effect on our identity. The use of the social network Instagram on civil commitment with a level of confidence of 95% has a positive effect; therefore, there is a significant relationship between the use of the Instagram social network and citizenship identity with a confidence level of 95%

designing marketing research model in social media

ali ghorbani; maedeh farhat; esmail omranzadeh

Volume 7, Issue 27 , November 2021, , Pages 299-267

https://doi.org/10.22054/nms.2021.25449.315

Abstract

On of the marketing information system is marketing research which means estimating information for recognizing opportunities and solving marketing problems which determines if products ... Read More

Structural Analysis of ISIS Supporter's Network on Tweeter: A Case Study

Milad Mir Mohamad Sadeghi; Abdul Ali Ghavam; Afsaneh Mozaffari

Volume 7, Issue 25 , March 2021, , Pages 134-107

https://doi.org/10.22054/nms.2021.47707.854

Abstract

Using Social Network Analysis (SNA), the present article explored a network containing 7885 people and 9927 ties among Arab-speaking ISIS supporters on Twitter. The aim of this research ... Read More

Examining the effect of oral communication in social networks on shopping behavior emphasizing the mediator role of attitudes, emotions and social norms

Hamid Babaei Meybodi; amir reza konjkave monfared; mohammad ghafari; ehsan karimi meybodi

Volume 6, Issue 24 , January 2021, , Pages 256-225

https://doi.org/10.22054/nms.2021.33808.532

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of oralcommunication on consumer purchasing behavior. In this regard, the role of mediator of emotions, social norms and attitudes ... Read More

Qualitative Analysis of Factors Affecting Membership in Telegram Social Network (Study of married people aged 15-40 years in Boroujerd city)

karamolah javanmard; narges khoshkalam

Volume 6, Issue 24 , January 2021, , Pages 288-257

https://doi.org/10.22054/nms.2021.42751.745

Abstract

The Telegraph Social Network is the most user-friendly social network in Iran, which holds a large amount of content and content. The current qualitative research has been conducted ... Read More

Identifying Dominant Network Culture in Instagram

Amir hossein Shemshadi; Afsaneh Mozaffari; mohamad soltanifar; Ali Akbar Farhangi

Volume 6, Issue 24 , January 2021, , Pages 344-311

https://doi.org/10.22054/nms.2021.55260.1045

Abstract

With the advent of the information age and networked society and the advent of web-based social media and the success of these networks in attracting users, these networks have been ... Read More

Patterns of Iranian celebrities' self-representation in the social network Instagram

Zahra Ardekani Fard; Neda Razavizadeh

Volume 6, Issue 22 , July 2020, , Pages 217-240

https://doi.org/10.22054/nms.2021.32891.503

Abstract

With the emerge of online social networks in recent years, the phenomenon of the extensive presence of Based on Gaffman's theory, celebrities use social networks as a front-end tool ... Read More

The impact of Twitter and Facebook on the political culture of university professors in eight metropolises of Iran

mehdi bigdeloo

Volume 4, Issue 13 , April 2018, , Pages 215-258

https://doi.org/10.22054/cs.2018.25700.321

Abstract

Political culture in Iran as a cultural space that manifests the way people relate to the political system has affected in recent decades various phenomena such as revolution, the structure ... Read More

the role of “telegram” as a social network in advertising about the 12th presidential election Iran

seyed mohamad mahdizadeh taleshi; eghbal khaledian; mehrave ferdosi

Volume 3, Issue 10 , August 2017, , Pages 9-42

https://doi.org/10.22054/cs.2017.22793.247

Abstract

The main purpose which this article follows, is comparative studying on the role of “telegram” as a social network and broadcasting media “IRIB” in advertising ... Read More

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Keywords = Social Network

Networked Health: Exploring the Instagramification of Health

Abstract

The role of social network (Instagram) in the formation of citizenship identity(Case study of citizens, Isfahan city

Abstract

designing marketing research model in social media

Abstract

Structural Analysis of ISIS Supporter's Network on Tweeter: A Case Study

Abstract

Examining the effect of oral communication in social networks on shopping behavior emphasizing the mediator role of attitudes, emotions and social norms

Abstract

Qualitative Analysis of Factors Affecting Membership in Telegram Social Network (Study of married people aged 15-40 years in Boroujerd city)

Abstract

Identifying Dominant Network Culture in Instagram

Abstract

Patterns of Iranian celebrities' self-representation in the social network Instagram

Abstract

The impact of Twitter and Facebook on the political culture of university professors in eight metropolises of Iran

Abstract

the role of “telegram” as a social network in advertising about the 12th presidential election Iran

Abstract