Date of Award

January 2025

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Department

School of Public Health

First Advisor

Joan Monin

Second Advisor

Erica Kenney

Abstract

This study aims to investigate youth perspectives on nutrition and healthism-related content, promotions, and messaging on social media. With the growing usage and impact of social media, especially in younger generations, it is important to recognize how social media may influence types of exposures and messaging of nutrition, weight management, and supplement-related content that youth are exposed to, which can, in turn, influence their perceptions on health and healthy lifestyles. These perspectives can then initiate engagement in helpful or harmful health behaviors. Through a qualitative analysis of focus group and interview responses of 29 Massachusetts teenagers, emerging themes were about: disordered weight control behaviors (DWCB); supplement messaging; messaging surrounding unhealthy foods, including mukbangs and binge eating; participants’ trustworthiness of influencers; and the overarching role of social media culture in spurring behavior change as a result of exposure to this content. Discussions about content surrounding unhealthy foods and behaviors were omnipresent in focus groups and interviews. Adolescents expressed variable feelings after viewing this type of content, ranging from disgust to expressing a strong desire to try particular foods. This resulted in behavior changes related to their daily eating habits. Many participants discussed that mistrust, misinformation, and unrealistic expectations from the food, beverage, or supplement influenced their opinions on these posts and the level of engagement they had with the product in their own lives. These findings can prompt future efforts to encourage brand and influencer transparency in product promotions, and social media platforms in reducing misinformation to their audiences.

Comments

This is an Open Access Thesis.

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