ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Commun., 06 April 2021

Sec. Health Communication

Volume 6 - 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2021.599661

Use of Social Media, Network Avenues, Blog and Scientific Information Systems Through the Website Promoting the Mediterranean Diet as a Method of a Health Safeguarding

  • 1. Research Group Nutrition, Diet and Risk Assessment (AGR-255), Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

  • 2. Master of Food & Fit, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

  • 3. Department of Food Technology, Nutrition and Food Science, University of Murcia, Lorca, Spain

  • 4. Department of Health Sciences, Universidad Isabel I de Castilla, Burgos, Spain

  • 5. Sola Communication, Granada, Spain

  • 6. Whats Creative Studio, Granada, Spain

Abstract

The Mediterranean Diet (MD) is considered by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as “the best for people and the most sustainable for the environment”. In the era of Big Data, new tools are emerging to facilitate health care research. One form of Big Data is the one that accumulates in the traffic caused by publications on the web and social networks. These data can provide valuable information about the epidemiological patterns of certain behavior and interest of the population. The objective of this study was to explore through websites and its associated official social media on information related to different publications of both international or national nutrition official agencies as well as publications of scientific diffusion for the design of future nutritional education and MD programs. This study opens up future avenues of research, such as studying the acceptance of post writing in other languages in those northern European countries where MD is being implemented. Or through the use of subtitled videos, due to the great acceptance of this format. The MD remains in 2020 considered the best option to follow a healthy diet without difficulties, therefore it is very important to continue promoting the need for good nutritional health based on its qualities.

Introduction

Online videos, shared via social media offer the potential to create such a relationship. It is estimated that over 1.4 billion people use Facebook daily. Whilst 800 million people use Instagram and 330 million people use Twitter on a monthly basis. The explosion of digital landscapes has promoted a noticeable increase in the time allocated to social media due to online activity and using online sources, including videos, also increasing the time dedicate to science information, particularly amongst 18–25 years olds (Pavelle and Wilkinson, 2020). Nutrition is the biological process by which the body uses food and fluids for the proper maintenance of vital functions. It is also the study of the relationship between food and health. Healthy nutrition is the key to keeping our bodies healthy (Maramba et al., 2019; Coumans et al., 2020). The Mediterranean Diet (MD) is considered by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as “the best for people and the most sustainable for the environment.” But according to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) presented in Vienna in May 2018, pioneer countries such as Spain, Italy and Greece have abandoned it. Currently, the number of users with Internet access is increasing year after year. At the beginning of 2020, there were 4.54 billion Internet users in the world, which means that 59% of the world's population has access to all the contents of the network. Regarding the management of social media, 49% of the world population uses them daily with a mean of 6 h and 43 min, being a showcase available to many (Schoeppe et al., 2016, 2017; Kankanhalli et al., 2019). The search for nutritional information on the Internet is a rising topic, and the sources found are not always rigorous and scientifically proved, which can lead to the appearance of health problems. Some countries have already made new technology available to them in order to recover abandoned MD, as is the case of the personalized research study on infant feeding in Italy and Israel “CAPRI” (from its acronym in English), applying a “personalized algorithm” based on the benefits of MD in the control of different diseases. We consider that the use of social networks could be a tool that seeks to achieve nutritional education based on proven sources and that helps us return this healthy eating pattern to many people (Lecube et al., 2017). Extensive research into this new realm remains emerging, with researchers who might use social media for communication activities, admitting a continued limited understanding about what it really is (Direito et al., 2014; Allgaier, 2019; León and Bourk, 2020; Pavelle and Wilkinson, 2020). Social media has facilitated large-scale science-focused initiatives, notably health campaigns highlighting the far-reaching influence social media can have on actions, attitudes, and behaviors (Aldred, 2016).

In these recent years, national and international scientific societies and professionals of nutrition are trying to transfer their research results and disseminate healthy lifestyle habits as well as dietary guidelines. Promoting the MD (Lecube et al., 2017), especially as a result of the publication of the PREDIMED study (Prevention with MD), in which adherence to a MD was associated with a lower cardiovascular risk (Estruch et al., 2018; Sutherland et al., 2019). However, the real impact of these information campaigns is not known, as well of the public interest. In the era of Big Data, new tools are emerging to facilitate health care research. One form of Big Data is the one that accumulates in the traffic caused by publications on the web and social networks. These data can provide valuable information about the epidemiological patterns of certain habits and interests of population (Rossignol et al., 2013; Nuti et al., 2014; Schootman et al., 2015; Solano et al., 2016; Mavragani et al., 2018; Strotman et al., 2019; Greenan, 2021) depending on the published information, publication formats and even the language in which it is published. In nutrition, search trends have been studied in some ways (Linkov et al., 2014; Tkachenko et al., 2017; Rahiri et al., 2018), showing how some sources of information on the Internet can be useful for detecting early signs of diabetes when performing keyword combinations. In the field of diets, a study that investigated the annual variation of Internet searches using Google Trends in the United States with respect to the term “diet,” found that those searches conformed to a constant linear model of 12 months, reaching a maximum in January (after New Year's Eve) and then decreasing linearly until repeating again the following January (Markey and Markey, 2013). However, there are no studies that relate certain diets and which were the most sought after by users. On the other hand, previous studies have addressed global trends in other countries than Spain, so the analysis of Spain individually is considered essential as a Mediterranean country (Gkouskou et al., 2011; Hirasawa et al., 2011).

Taking all this into account, this case study explored how can be digitally obtained a high-quality MD. The aim of this study is investigate through the official website of the Andalusian Winter Sports Federation (FADI, Spain), the official website of MM Health Science and its associated official social media (Instagram and Facebook), the interests of federated population in Andalusia (Spain) about publishing information (both Spanish and foreign), related to different publications of both international or national nutrition official agencies as well as publications of scientific diffusion for the design of future nutritional education projects and MD promoting programs, which allowed us to directly observe how this audience engages with online web and social media.

Materials and Methods

Digital health provides the opportunity to enhance the reach, engagement and intensity of supporting specialists to improve the MD quality in the population (Zarnowiecki et al., 2020). Social media has an increasingly important influence on science and environmental communication, particularly amongst young people, but research on such sources, and the potential of their role, is also still emerging (Allgaier, 2019; León and Bourk, 2020; Pavelle and Wilkinson, 2020). To analyse the traffic of the information published on the web and their social media by the population under study, the official websites of the Andalusian Winter Sports Federation and the official website of MM Health Science [web section: “#lasaludnutricionalnoseconfina” (#nutritionalhealthisnotconfined)] were used as well as the official social media associated (Instagram and Facebook): @fadiandalucia and @mmhealthscience. Publications were made from February 2020 to May 2020, with a diary frequency publication, organized in an international or national nutrition official agency and publication of diffusion (changing languages and formats). This study was approved by the research ethics committee of the Andalusian Public Health Service.

The material we have available is all the data traffic generated by the publication of 58 posts between the months of February to May 2020, by a group of 15 health professionals on the federative official web platforms “#FadiResearch-News in health and performance sports” and MM Health Science official web under the title #nutritionalhealthisnotconfined [“#lasaludnutricionalnoseconfina”] referring to the situation experienced as a result of the State of Alarm decreed by the Government of Spain for the situation generated by COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 19) (Sjölander-Lindqvist et al., 2020).

It is intended to analyse the type of information that is generated in these posts, whether written, visual or in the form of a Podcast. Seeking to know the type of people, gender, nationality, age, how to know what information is most interesting in short, to know how they interact with these types of posts.

This information generated has been studied and analyzed following different methods, divided into type of information published according to sources, classifying it according to its origin, whether from official or unofficial bodies; type of format used grouping it around the categories articles, news, videos or audio; people who have interacted using classification based on gender and age range; nationality of the people who interacted, whether Spanish, sectoring in cities and towns or foreign, inside or outside the European Union (EU).

The global results obtained on the two platforms through Instagram are also compared. And finally, researchers studied and analyzed how are the sessions on the webs.

Result Variables: The variables studied will be the ones that throw the web as well as the social networks regarding the traffic caused by the publication during the study period. All these variables will be grouped by socio-economic factors (age, sex, city, country, geographic region from where it is accessed, etc.) as well as the type of publication [written/video(YouTube), Spanish/English, etc.].

Statistical analysis: Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Version 22.0 statistic software package. All coded variables will be analyzed, presenting the descriptive values as mean, minimum, maximum, Standard Deviation (SD), ranges. Statistical normality tests were performed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. For correlation and differences between groups, T-tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed. A value of P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The type of information finally published corresponds to official and unofficial organizations, and it was well distributed between the two websites used with a large amount of information from blogs (personal blogs 32.70% and information blogs 26.90%), and newspapers and TV (13.50%). Of all the information published, more than 10% was from official organizations (Table 1). When comparing the mean values measured on the websites according to the communication medium (Table 2), statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were found about number, percentage of page views on the web and webs entries, with blogs and social media having the higher mean values. Similarly, blogs and social media obtained the higher mean values of “likes” (p = 0.011). However, it is the information from universities that obtains the highest mean values (p = 0.002) for Impressions of another origin from Instagram (Table 2).

Table 1

(%) total(%) FADI*(%) MM**
SourcesUnofficial organizationsNewspapers and TV13.5011.5014.30
Nutrition magazines1.901.900.00
Beauty magazines3.803.800.00
Personal blog32.7011.6021.10
Information blog26.909.6017.30
Universities9.603.805.80
Social media0.000.000.00
Official organizationsSpanish9.605.803.80
Foreigners1.901.900.00

Type of information published according to sources.

*

FADI: #FadiResearch-Novedades in health and sports performance.

**

MM: Ventures.whatstudio.es/noticias.

Table 2

MeanSDMinimumMaximumP*
Number of visits to the webNewspapers and TV107.0019.6580.00143.000.121
Nutrition magazines128.1129.7380.00178.00
Beauty magazines97.00-97.0097.00
Blogs and social media135.0036.9756.00191.00
Universities149.3646.9076.00231.00
Total132.2738.5756.00231.00
% of visits on the webNewspapers and TV3.230.452.723.810.078
Nutrition magazines2.72-2.722.72
Beauty magazines----
Blogs and social media5.970.485.546.49
Universities4.981.802.587.85
Total4.631.692.587.85
Number of page views on the webNewspapers and TV70.2510.1458.0080.000.023
Nutrition magazines62.00-62.0062.00
Beauty magazines----
Blogs and social media147.0013.23137.00162.00
Universities117.0038.7963.00181.00
Total108.5640.1458.00181.00
% of page views on the webNewspapers and TV2.980.432.463.390.023
Nutrition magazines2.63-2.632.63
Beauty magazines----
Blogs and social media6.230.565.816.87
Universities4.961.642.677.67
Total4.601.702.467.67
Average time on the webNewspapers and TV1.270.730.462.230.389
Nutrition magazines2.03-2.032.03
Beauty magazines----
Blogs and social media2.431.491.134.06
Universities2.040.781.183.52
Total1.940.910.464.06
Web entriesNewspapers and TV48.5011.6235.0062.000.012
Nutrition magazines52.00-52.0052.00
Beauty magazines----
Blogs and social media129.0019.97107.00146.00
Universities94.6033.6255.00144.00
Total87.7237.8835.00146.00
Percentage of entries on the webNewspapers and TV2.610.631.883.340.012
Nutrition magazines2.80-2.802.80
Beauty magazines----
Blogs and social media6.951.085.767.86
Universities5.091.812.967.75
Total4.722.041.887.86
Bounce rate on the webNewspapers and TV70.898.5661.3679.030.444
Nutrition magazines82.69-82.6982.69
Beauty magazines----
Blogs and social media77.9614.1061.6886.57
Universities75.794.0566.1879.73
Total75.457.3661.3686.57
% of exit on the webNewspapers and TV51.389.4539.5661.860.014
Nutrition magazines67.50-67.5067.50
Beauty magazines----
Blogs and social media71.8212.2058.3882.21
Universities65.134.8757.8573.08
Total63.329.7539.5682.21
Likes in instagramNewspapers and TV41.0018.9518.0074.000.011
Nutrition magazines29.8615.3618.0061.00
Beauty magazines25.00-25.0025.00
Blogs and social media55.3315.3330.0081.00
Universities40.4713.7625.0073.00
Total42.6017.1218.0081.00
Instagram commentsNewspapers and TV7.677.312.0017.000.264
Nutrition magazines5.864.560.0013.00
Beauty magazines5.00-5.005.00
Blogs and social media3.334.050.0015.00
Universities9.298.890.0034.00
Total6.747.070.0034.00
Times shared from instagramNewspapers and TV11.007.350.0023.000.814
Nutrition magazines13.712.8110.0019.00
Beauty magazines6.00-6.006.00
Blogs and social media11.335.681.0018.00
Universities14.8814.710.0056.00
Total12.9510.130.0056.00
Times saved on instagramNewspapers and TV0.830.750.002.000.467
Nutrition magazines0.710.760.002.00
Beauty magazines0.00-0.000.00
Blogs and social media0.751.140.004.00
Universities1.240.900.003.00
Total0.930.940.004.00
Number of visits on instagramNewspapers and TV39.2013.1824.0059.000.173
Nutrition magazines27.0011.2811.0044.00
Beauty magazines24.00-24.0024.00
Blogs and social media30.0817.462.0061.00
Universities43.5018.329.0079.00
Total34.9216.932.0079.00
Reach from instagramNewspapers and TV484.40314.88206.00864.000.146
Nutrition magazines412.86280.20197.00921.00
Beauty magazines205.00-205.00205.00
Blogs and social media694.83281.84214.00988.00
Universities448.75290.52245.00967.00
Total520.00302.01197.00988.00
Interactions from instagramNewspapers and TV39.2013.1824.0059.000.168
Nutrition magazines27.0011.2811.0044.00
Beauty magazines24.00-24.0024.00
Blogs and social media30.0817.462.0061.00
Universities43.5818.249.0079.00
Total34.9516.922.0079.00
Visits to instagram profileNewspapers and TV39.2013.1824.0059.000.218
Nutrition magazines27.0011.2811.0044.00
Beauty magazines24.00-24.0024.00
Blogs and social media30.0817.462.0061.00
Universities65.3366.4327.00271.00
Total42.0042.012.00271.00
Clicks on the web from instagramNewspapers and TV17.208.178.0026.000.480
Nutrition magazines10.434.547.0020.00
Beauty magazines8.00-8.008.00
Blogs and social media15.7810.274.0037.00
Universities16.829.002.0031.00
Total14.978.492.0037.00
Accounts reached from instagramNewspapers and TV484.40314.88206.00864.000.146
Nutrition magazines412.86280.20197.00921.00
Beauty magazines205.00-205.00205.00
Blogs and social media694.83281.84214.00988.00
Universities448.75290.52245.00967.00
Total520.00302.01197.00988.00
Impressions from instagramNewspapers and TV569.00371.06242.00987.000.197
Nutrition magazines485.00324.84242.001062.00
Beauty magazines236.00-236.00236.00
Blogs and social media799.50326.44248.001142.00
Universities543.18345.73306.001102.00
Total612.36350.06236.001142.00
Instagram hashtags impressionsNewspapers and TV15.7510.724.0030.000.661
Nutrition magazines30.1744.942.00117.00
Beauty magazines5.00-5.005.00
Blogs and social media56.3399.761.00367.00
Universities17.9023.551.0067.00
Total33.4565.131.00367.00
Instagram start impressionsNewspapers and TV428.00358.68159.00843.000.262
Nutrition magazines342.14318.85140.00895.00
Beauty magazines161.00-161.00161.00
Blogs and social media615.25328.74155.00967.00
Universities345.73332.91131.00883.00
Total441.17339.48131.00967.00
Instagram profile impressionsNewspapers and TV15.8014.723.0040.000.072
Nutrition magazines35.7126.494.0066.00
Beauty magazines45.00-45.0045.00
Blogs and social media15.7520.913.0075.00
Universities12.458.473.0035.00
Total19.4419.913.0075.00
Impressions of another origin from instagramNewspapers and TV112.0044.9740.00156.000.002
Nutrition magazines81.7138.4718.00122.00
Beauty magazines25.00-25.0025.00
Blogs and social media112.4250.3119.00182.00
Universities168.7344.23131.00276.00
Total121.1756.2518.00276.00

Comparison of the mean values measured on the websites according to the communication medium.

*

ANOVA.

Differences are only found in the mean values obtained from official and unofficial information (Tables 3, 4) for Instagram profile impressions. The format of the post statistically influenced (P < 0.05) at the comportment of the mean results obtained for “likes,” comments, times shared, reach, visits, clicks, accounts reached and impressions, with video-format receiving the highest mean values (Tables 5, 6).

Table 3

MeanSDMinimumMaximumP*
Number of visits to the webUnofficial organism130.0339.6956.00231.000.955
Official organism139.1835.7380.00195.00
Total132.2738.5756.00231.00
Likes in instagramUnofficial organism42.2516.0918.0081.000.125
Official organism43.6420.6718.0073.00
Total42.6017.1218.0081.00
Instagram commentsUnofficial organism7.537.670.0034.000.093
Official organism4.454.440.0013.00
Total6.747.070.0034.00
Times shared from instagramUnofficial organism12.4111.490.0056.000.098
Official organism14.554.209.0023.00
Total12.9510.130.0056.00
Times saved on instagramUnofficial organism0.810.970.004.000.809
Official organism1.270.790.002.00
Total0.930.940.004.00
Number of visits on instagramUnofficial organism35.0016.692.0064.000.957
Official organism34.7318.3211.0079.00
Total34.9216.932.0079.00
Reach from instagramUnofficial organism490.19292.20205.00988.000.375
Official organism590.45327.30197.00967.00
Total520.00302.01197.00988.00
Interactions from instagramUnofficial organism35.0416.672.0064.000.949
Official organism34.7318.3211.0079.00
Total34.9516.922.0079.00
Visits to instagram profileUnofficial organism45.0848.722.00271.000.473
Official organism34.7318.3211.0079.00
Total42.0042.012.00271.00
Clicks on the web from instagramUnofficial organism16.189.272.0037.000.153
Official organism12.556.355.0023.00
Total14.978.492.0037.00
Accounts reached from instagramUnofficial organism490.19292.20205.00988.000.375
Official organism590.45327.30197.00967.00
Total520.00302.01197.00988.00
Impressions from instagramUnofficial organism576.88339.24236.001,142.000.377
Official organism693.00377.34242.001,102.00
Total612.36350.06236.001,142.00
Instagram hashtags impressionsUnofficial organism37.2676.851.00367.000.339
Official organism24.7022.902.0067.00
Total33.4565.131.00367.00
Instagram Start impressionsUnofficial organism403.48332.82131.00967.000.490
Official organism526.82354.82148.00895.00
Total441.17339.48131.00967.00
Instagram profile impressionsUnofficial organism17.9217.063.0075.000.040
Official organism22.9125.893.0066.00
Total19.4419.913.0075.00
Impressions of another origin from instagramUnofficial organism121,2050,7219.00203.000,388
Official organism121,0970,0018.00276.00
Total121,1756,2518.00276.00

Comparison of the mean values measured on the websites according to the source of information.

*

Student t-test.

Table 4

% total% FADI*% MM**
Format typeArticlesOpinion40.4015.4025.00
Tips40.4025.0015.40
News9.601.907.70
Videos9.607.701.90
Audio0.000.000.00

Type of format used.

*

FADI: #FadiResearch-Novedades in health and sports performance.

**

MM: Ventures.whatstudio.es/noticias.

Table 5

MeanSDMinimumMaximumP*
Number of visits to the webText134.8438.6176.00231.000.342
Video----
Texto and Video120.3838.5956.00178.00
Total132.2738.5756.00231.00
Likes on instagramText39.8316.0318.0077.000.018
Video43.007.0738.0048.00
Texto and Video62.4016.0239.0081.00
Total42.6017.1218.0081.00
Instagram commentsText6.927.130.0034.000.049
Video16.002.8314.0018.00
Texto and Video1.802.170.005.00
Total6.747.070.0034.00
Times shared from instagramText10.816.730.0023.000.001
Video46.5013.4437.0056.00
Texto and Video15.005.059.0023.00
Total12.9510.130.0056.00
Times saved on instagramText0.940.980.004.000.803
Video0.500.710.001.00
Texto and Video1.000.710.002.00
Total0.930.940.004.00
Number of visits on instagramText36.1017.762.0079.000.666
Video27.0025.469.0045.00
Texto and Video31.008.3720.0038.00
Total34.9216.932.0079.00
Reach from instagramText476.90291.84197.00988.000.012
Video299.0039.60271.00327.00
Texto and Video867.00118.81690.00987.00
Total520.00302.01197.00988.00
Interactions from instagramText36.1317.742.0079.000.663
Video27.0025.469.0045.00
Texto and Video31.008.3720.0038.00
Total34.9516.922.0079.00
Visits to instagram profileText36.1017.762.0079.000.001
Video158.00159.8145.00271.00
Texto and Video31.008.3720.0038.00
Total42.0042.012.00271.00
Clicks on the web from instagramText16.858.194.0037.000.017
Video2.00-2.002.00
Texto and Video7.401.525.009.00
Total14.978.492.0037.00
Accounts reached from instagramText476.90291.84197.00988.000.012
Video299.0039.60271.00327.00
Texto and Video867.00118.81690.00987.00
Total520.00302.01197.00988.00
Impressions from instagramText553.97334.17236.001137.000.013
Video347.00-347.00347.00
Texto and Video1015.80126.50829.001142.00
Total612.36350.06236.001142.00
Instagram hashtags ImpressionsText33.9370.661.00367.000.923
Video----
Texto and Video30.8014.8112.0047.00
Total33.4565.131.00367.00
Instagram Start impressionsText383.80320.31140.00883.000.008
Video131.00-131.00131.00
Texto and Video847.4097.71709.00967.00
Total441.17339.48131.00967.00
Instagram profile impressionsText22.1020.793.0075.000.191
Video13.00-13.0013.00
Texto and Video4.801.923.008.00
Total19.4419.913.0075.00
Impressions of another origin from instagramText116.5058.1618.00276.000.289
Video203.00-203.00203.00
Texto and Video132.8033.90100.00182.00
Total121.1756.2518.00276.00

Comparison of the mean values measured on the websites according to the format.

*

ANOVA.

Table 6

Web fadi (%)Web Whats Ventures (%)
Aged (years)13–171.000.00
18–2411.0027.59
25–3428.0033.50
35–4429.0015.00
45–5420.0012.50
55–647.005.50
≥652.005.50
GenderMen62.0054.15
Momen38.0045.85
LocationGranada (Spain)70.0013.67
Madrid (Spain)17.548.74
Málaga (Spain)5.261.90
Barcelona (Spain)3.505.62
Sevilla (Spain)3.507.35
Murcia (Spain)0.005.02
Valencia (Spain)0.005.19
Almería (Spain)0.003.29
Lorca (Murcia, Spain)0.003.11
(not set)0.0022.15
NationalityEuropean UnionSpain100.0086.91
England0.001.49
France0.006.87
Outside European UnionEEUU0.000.74
Mexico0.000.56
Australia0.000.46

People who have interacted.

Discussion

Digital nutrition promotion interventions provide an opportunity to address the public health issue of improving people's nutrition (Zarnowiecki et al., 2020). There are inherent elements of subjectivity in the interpretation of this case study (Nieubuurt, 2020), however it presents insight into how our subjects (audience) engaged with one science communication endeavor using digital platforms as webs or social media. Awareness is difficult to quantify especially on social media, however the growth in reach and engagement across platforms (web and social media) indicated a likely growing consciousness. Zarnowiecki et al. (2020) found a positive effect of the digital intervention on child nutrition across a range of dietary outcomes. Additionally, having reviewed and analyzed the data obtained from both web pages and their interactions on Instagram, we consider these data to be of great use for future research related to the implementation of MD, as well as to promote nutritional health through social media, applications, blogs, etc. (Gkouskou et al., 2011; Hirasawa et al., 2011). Moreover, Instagram epitomize interactive media through which users can comment, share, tag friends or “like a post” (Pavelle and Wilkinson, 2020).

It should be noted the influence that the confinement situation due to COVID-19 may have on the use of the Internet as a source of information on health-related issues in the world population. This situation of confinement could have affected the perception, the feeding, the use of social media, etc.

It was expected that the so-called Generation X, born in 1969–1980, who lived through the splendor of consumerism and the obsession with triumph, were the first to familiarize themselves with computers as a work tool. Also, Generation Y (born in 1981–1993), also called Millennials (Strotman et al., 2019), is the first generation that can be considered global. In contrast to the previous ones, in this generation there are no differences between countries and all young Westerners can identify with the same moral values. They have grown up with the beginnings of digitalisation. A stigmatized generation that has been described as lazy, individualistic, bourgeois, but it is also these young people who promoted healthy living, healthy eating or environmentalism), would be the age groups that would most interact with the posts, since they are generations linked to the use of the Internet. They are also in the stage of life when they begin to be self-sufficient, enter the labor market and start to form their own families. Thus, they want to learn to cook or simply take care of themselves and eat healthy. There are no differences between gender (Tkachenko et al., 2017).

Regarding the format, if we look at the comparative tables (Tables 2, 3, 5, 7, 8), the type used when publishing the information is very important depending on where it is done on Instagram. This means that the mentioned social network has several ways in which the person can interact with the account, either directly in the profile or in the stories (information that is only available for 24 h). It is observed that the mixed formats (text and video), considering impressions and reactions, reach more public through Instagram accounts. However, when publishing in the profile, more interaction has been made with the video format, perhaps due to the more frequent use and greater custom of social media apps in which short videos are published. Online videos, shared via social media, can be used as a modern gateway raising awareness of a scientific topic to motivate users' curiosity and potential behavioral change (Allgaier, 2019; Pavelle and Wilkinson, 2020). This does not mean that the individual text or video format is not important, since observing the comparative tables (Tables 2, 3, 5, 7, 8) and according to the information we want to send, we simply have to take into account how we should publish it (Gkouskou et al., 2011; Hirasawa et al., 2011).

Table 7

MinimumMaximumMeanSDPa
Likes on InstagramFADI39.0081.0060.9411.440.455
MM18.0061.0033.5710.03
Total18.0081.0043.0916.80
Instagram commentsFADI0.005.001.691.580.001
MM1.0034.008.977.38
Total0.0034.006.436.94
Times shared from InstagramFADI4.0026.0014.695.560.073
MM0.0056.0012.3312.04
Total0.0056.0013.1510.25
Times saved on InstagramFADI0.002.000.940.770.402
MM0.004.000.931.01
Total0.004.000.930.93
Number of visits on InstagramFADI2.0066.0032.6914.550.154
MM9.0079.0037.7818.88
Total2.0079.0035.6917.22
Reach from InstagramFADI690.00988.00873.7583.860.615
MM197.00873.00309.00147.43
Total197.00988.00540.69307.50
Interactions from InstagramFADI2.0066.0032.6914.550.158
MM9.0079.0037.8318.85
Total2.0079.0035.7217.20
Visits to Instagram profileFADI2.0066.0032.6914.550.175
MM11.00271.0049.1751.53
Total2.00271.0042.4141.09
Clicks on the web from InstagramFADI4.0026.0011.536.500.194
MM2.0037.0017.408.83
Total2.0037.0014.898.35
Accounts reached from InstagramFADI690.00988.00873.7583.860.615
MM197.00873.00309.00147.43
Total197.00988.00540.69307.50
Impressions from InstagramFADI829.001142.001016.1389.100.568
MM236.001008.00360.64168.00
Total236.001142.00636.63356.10
Instagram hashtag impressionsFADI12.0067.0037.0016.990.108
MM1.00367.0031.1685.54
Total1.00367.0033.8363.32
Instagram Home ImpressionsFADI709.00967.00837.6961.170.713
MM131.00822.00190.45141.90
Total131.00967.00462.97343.25
Instagram profile impressionsFADI2.0011.005.382.390.001
MM6.0075.0028.3621.05
Total2.0075.0018.6819.65
Impressions of another origin from InstagramFADI78.00209.00136.2534.370.026
MM18.00276.00114.9167.78
Total18.00276.00123.8956.57

Comparison of results of both platforms through Instagram.

*

Student t-test.

FADI: #FadiResearch-Novedades in health and sports performance; MM: Ventures.whatstudio.es/noticias.

Table 8

Web fadi (N)Web Whats Ventures (N)
Users (N)1,816.001,058.00
Sessions (N)1,924.001,857.00
Number of sessions per user (N)1.921.76
Number of visits to pages (N)3,421.002,943.00
Pages per session (N)1.861.58
Mean session duration (min:seg)00:01:2300:01:10
% Rebound81.2775.61

Sessions.

We observe that there are no significant differences regarding the official or unofficial sources. Perhaps a slight difference in the impressions of the Instagram profile that are directed toward official organizations. In future scientific investigations it would be interesting to focus on the reason for this circumstance. Among the unofficial sources, the greater acceptance of publications from social media, blogs, universities, newspapers and TV before nutrition magazines is also surprising. The beauty magazines in this study have not had the expected acceptance, even though they are magazines dedicated to the care and improvement of personal well-being.

Regarding nationality, the majority have been Spanish-speaking Internet users, perhaps because all the posts have been published in Spanish. However, 15% of the visits come from countries where Spanish is not the official language. We can highlight that not only the original founding countries of MD are interested in maintaining nutritional habits (Greenan, 2021).

It is important for the purpose raised in the objective of this study that the content published reaches the largest possible population. Social media and new technologies can be, good tools. The content must be easily accessible, verified and easy to understand for the user since it has been observed that no more than two minutes pass in each publication.

Digital interventions in MD appear to be a promising avenue for improving people's nutrition and are intervention approaches aligned with shifts in society and trends for how health information is accessed (Pollard et al., 2015; Drumm et al., 2017; Zarnowiecki et al., 2020). Social media and all kind of apps are growing incredibly fast which is exciting. We must take advantage of all the opportunities and advantages that they offer us when delivering both the MD and any other important nutritional information. People should try to keep the information simple, accurate and direct in order to reach the largest possible population due to the excess of information that exists on the Internet (Rossignol et al., 2013; Schootman et al., 2015; Solano et al., 2016; Strotman et al., 2019; Greenan, 2021). It also supports the growing popularity of social media especially among young people, who are adept at navigating digital spaces and therefore using social media in crafting impactful content. It appears a beneficial way, to mobilize this cohort to participate in science (Groffman et al., 2010; Hargittai et al., 2018; Pavelle and Wilkinson, 2020).

This study opens up future avenues of research, such as studying the acceptance of post writing in other languages in those northern European countries where MD is being implemented. Or through the use of subtitled videos, due to the great acceptance of this format (Dussaillant et al., 2016). The increasing acceptance of social media as a source of information provides opportunities to integrate science communication (Fletcher, 2017; Pavelle and Wilkinson, 2020). Via federative web, MM Health Science web and social media Instagram (@fadiandalucia and @mmhealthscience respectively) using the MD, this case study has highlighted implications for the use of social media, and webs, in science communication and engagement. The effective use of social media requires a balance between crafting an informative yet entertaining narrative without compromising rigor and scientific accuracy; however ultimately, these platforms may represent an implementation for practitioners to consider implementing in an upstream engagement. The review of Zarnowiecki et al. (2020), suggest that nutrition promotion websites and social media can achieve small to moderate changes in fruits, vegetables and nutrient-poor foods and drinks, showing promising results. Leveraging both social media and traditional means of marketing may achieve reach and awareness, as well as targeting and engaging with more intended users (James et al., 2013; Laws et al., 2016; Zarnowiecki et al., 2020). The MD remains in 2020 considered the best option to follow a healthy diet without difficulties, therefore it is very important to continue promoting the need for good nutritional health based on its qualities (Dussaillant et al., 2016).

Statements

Data availability statement

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author/s.

Ethics statement

The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by University of Granada. Written informed consent to participate in this study was provided by the participants' legal guardian/next of kin.

Author contributions

All authors listed have made a substantial, direct and intellectual contribution to the work, and approved it for publication.

Funding

This study was supported by the Andalusian Regional Government (Nutrition, Diet, and Risks Assessment: AGR255) and FEDER-ISCIII PI14/01040 and also by Whats Creative Studio (@whatstudio), Sola Communication (@solacomunicacion), and MM Health Science (@mmhealthscience).

Acknowledgments

This paper will be part of BS's Master Thesis. Being completed as part of the Food & Fit Master Program at the University of Granada, Spain.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The reviewer FO-S declared a shared affiliation with several of the authors MM-A, MJ-C, BS, SD-M, AB-D, LC, MP, NM, PS, AL-M, and MC to the handling Editor.

References

  • 1

    AldredJ. (2016). Woman sets out to Paddleboard length of England to highlight plastic pollution. The Guardian. Available online at: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/may/11/woman-sets-out-to-paddleboard-length-of-~england-to-highlight-plastic-pollution.AQaccwss (accessed July, 2020).

  • 2

    AllgaierJ. (2019). Science and environmental communication on Youtube: strategically distorted communications in online videos on climate change and climate engineering. Front. Commun. 4:36. 10.3389/fcomm.2019.00036

  • 3

    CoumansJ. M. J.BolmanC. A. W.OenemaA.LechnerL. (2020). Predictors of self-determined module choice in a web-based computer-tailored diet and physical activity intervention: secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial. J. Med. Internet Res. 22:e15024. 10.2196/15024

  • 4

    DireitoA.DaleL. P.ShieldsE.DobsonR.WhittakerR.MaddisonR. (2014). Do physical activity and dietary smartphone applications incorporate evidence-based behaviour change techniques?BMC Public Health14:646. 10.1186/1471-2458-14-646

  • 5

    DrummJ.WhiteN.SwiegersM.DaveyM. (2017). Smart everything, everywhere. Mobile Consumer Survey 2017 The Australian Cut. 2017. Available online at: http://landing.deloitte.com.au/rs/761-IBL-328/images/tmt-mobile-consumer-survey-2017_pdf.pdf (accessed July, 2020).

  • 6

    DussaillantC.EcheverríaG.UrquiagaI.VelascoN.RigottiA. (2016). Evidencia actual sobre los beneficios de la dieta mediterránea en salud [Current evidence on health benefits of the mediterranean diet]. Rev. Med. Chil.144, 10441052. 10.4067/S0034-98872016000800012

  • 7

    EstruchR.RosE.Salas-SalvadóJ.CovasM. I.CorellaD.ArósF.et al. (2018). Retraction and republication: primary prevention of cardiovascular disease with a mediterranean diet. N. Engl. J Med.368:12791290. 10.1056/NEJMc1806491

  • 8

    FletcherR. (2017). Connection with nature is an oxymoron: a political ecology of “nature-deficit disorder”. J. Environ. Educ. 48, 226233. 10.1080/00958964.2016.1139534

  • 9

    GkouskouK.MarkakiA.VasilakiM.RoidisA.VlastosI. (2011). Quality of nutritional information on the Internet in health and disease. Hippokratia15, 304307.

  • 10

    GreenanK. A. (2021). The influence of virtual education on classroom culture. Front Commun. 6:4. 10.3389/fcomm.2021.641214

  • 11

    GroffmanP. M.StylinskiC.NisbetM. C.DuarteC. M.JordanR.BurginA.et al. (2010). Restarting the conversation: challenges at the interface between ecology and society. Front. Ecol. Environ. 8, 284291. 10.1890/090160

  • 12

    HargittaiE.FüchslinT.SchäferM. S. (2018). How do young adults engage with science and research on social media? Some Preliminary Findings and an Agenda for Future Research. Soc. Media Soc. 4, 110. 10.1177/2056305118797720

  • 13

    HirasawaR.SaitoK.YachiY.IbeY.KodamaS.AsumiM.et al. (2011). Quality of Internet information related to the Mediterranean diet. Public Health Nutr. 15, 885893. 10.1017/S1368980011002345

  • 14

    JamesK. J.AlbrechtJ. A.LitchfieldR. E.WeishaarC. A. (2013). A summative evaluation of a food safety social marketing campaign “4-day throw-away” using traditional and social media. J. Food Sci. Educ.12, 855. 10.1111/1541-4329.12010

  • 15

    KankanhalliA.SaxenaM.WadhwaB. (2019). Combined interventions for physical activity, sleep, and diet using smartphone apps: a scoping literature review. Int. J. Med. Inform. 123, 5467. 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2018.12.005

  • 16

    LawsR. A.LitterbachE. K.Denney-WilsonE. A.RussellC. G.TakiS.OngK. L.et al. (2016). A comparison of recruitment methods for an mhealth intervention targeting mothers: lessons from the growing healthy program. J. Med. Internet Res. 18:e248. 10.2196/jmir.5691

  • 17

    LecubeA.MonereoS.RubioM. Á.Martínez-de-IcayaP.MartíASalvadorJ.et al. (2017). Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of obesity. 2016 position statement of the Spanish Society for the Study of Obesity. Endocrinol. Diabetes Nutr.64(Suppl 1), 1522. English, Spanish. 10.1016/j.endien.2017.03.007

  • 18

    LeónB.BourkM. (2020). “Investigating science-related online video,” in Communicating Science and Technology Through Online Video, eds B. León and M. Bourk (London: Routledge).

  • 19

    LinkovF.BovbjergD. H.FreeseK. E.RamanathanR.EidG. M.GourashW. (2014). Bariatric surgery interest around the world: what Google Trends can teach us. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 10, 533538. 10.1016/j.soard.2013.10.007

  • 20

    MarambaI.ChatterjeeA.NewmanC. (2019). Methods of usability testing in the development of eHealth applications: a scoping review. Int. J. Med. Inform. 126, 95104. 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2019.03.018

  • 21

    MarkeyP. M.MarkeyC. N. (2013). Annual variation in Internet keyword searches: linking dieting interest to obesity and negative health outcomes. J. Health Psychol. 18, 875886. 10.1177/1359105312445080

  • 22

    MavraganiA.OchoaG.TsagarakisK. P. (2018). Assessing the methods, tools, and statistical approaches in Google trends research: systematic review. J. Med. Internet Res. 20:e270. 10.2196/jmir.9366

  • 23

    NieubuurtJ. T. (2020). Internet memes: leaflet propaganda of the digital age. Front. Commun.5:116. 10.3389/fcomm.2020.547065

  • 24

    NutiS. V.WaydaB.RanasingheI.WangS.DreyerR. P.ChenS. I.et al. (2014). The use of google trends in health care research: a systematic review. PLoS ONE. 9:e109583. 10.1371/journal.pone.0109583

  • 25

    PavelleS.WilkinsonC. (2020). Into the digital wild: utilizing Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook for effective science and environmental communication. Front Commun. 5:82. 10.3389/fcomm.2020.575122

  • 26

    PollardC. M.PulkerC. E.MengX.KerrD. A.ScottJ. A. (2015). Who uses the Internet as a source of nutrition and dietary information? An Australian Population Perspective. J. Med. Internet Res. 17:e209. 10.2196/jmir.4548

  • 27

    RahiriJ. L.BarazanchiA.FurukawaS.MacCormickA. D.HarwoodM.HillA. G. (2018). Using Google trends to explore the New Zealand public's interest in bariatric surgery. ANZ J. Surg. 88, 12741278. 10.1111/ans.14772

  • 28

    RossignolL.PelatC.LambertB.FlahaultA.Chartier-KastlerE.HanslikT. (2013). A method to assess seasonality of urinary tract infections based on medication sales and google trends. PLoS ONE. 8:e76020. 10.1371/journal.pone.0076020

  • 29

    SchoeppeS.AlleyS.RebarA. L.HaymanM.BrayN. A.Van LippeveldeW.et al. (2017). Apps to improve diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviour in children and adolescents: a review of quality, features and behaviour change techniques. Int. J. Behav. Nutr. Phys Act. 14:83. 10.1186/s12966-017-0538-3

  • 30

    SchoeppeS.AlleyS.Van LippeveldeW.BrayN. A.WilliamsS. L.DuncanM. J.et al. (2016). Efficacy of interventions that use apps to improve diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviour: a systematic review. Int. J. Behav. Nutr. Phys. Act. 13:27. 10.1186/s12966-016-0454-y

  • 31

    SchootmanM.ToorA.Cavazos-RehgP.JeffeD. B.McQueenA.EberthJ.et al. (2015). The utility of Google trends data to examine interest in cancer screening. BMJ Open. 5:e006678. 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006678

  • 32

    Sjölander-LindqvistA.LarssonS.FavaN.GillbergN.Marcian,òC.CinqueS. (2020). Communicating about COVID-19 in four European countries: similarities and differences in National Discourses in Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden. Front. Commun. 5:97. 10.3389/fcomm.2020.593325

  • 33

    SolanoP.UstulinM.PizzornoE.VichiM.PompiliM.SerafiniG.et al. (2016). A Google-based approach for monitoring suicide risk. Psychiatr. Res. 246, 581586. 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.10.030

  • 34

    StrotmanP. K.NovicoffW. M.NelsonS. J.BrowneJ. A. (2019). Increasing public interest in stem cell injections for osteoarthritis of the hip and knee: a Google trends analysis. J. Arthroplasty. 34, 10531057. 10.1016/j.arth.2019.03.002

  • 35

    SutherlandR.NathanN.BrownA.YoongS.FinchM.LecathelinaisC.et al. (2019). A randomized controlled trial to assess the potential efficacy, feasibility and acceptability of an m-health intervention targeting parents of school aged children to improve the nutritional quality of foods packed in the lunchbox 'SWAP IT'. Int. J. Behav. Nutr. Phys. Act. 1:54. 10.1186/s12966-019-0812-7

  • 36

    TkachenkoN.ChotvijitS.GuptaN.BradleyE.GilksC.GuoW.et al. (2017). Google trends can improve surveillance of Type 2 diabetes. Sci. Rep. 7:4993. 10.1038/s41598-017-05091-9

  • 37

    ZarnowieckiD.MauchC. E.MiddletonG.MatwiejczykL.WatsonW. L.DibbsJ.et al. (2020). A systematic evaluation of digital nutrition promotion websites and apps for supporting parents to influence children's nutrition. Int. J. Behav. Nutr. Phys. Act. 17:17. 10.1186/s12966-020-0915-1

Summary

Keywords

website, mediterranean diet, health, blogs, social media

Citation

Mariscal-Arcas M, Jimenez-Casquet MJ, Saenz de Buruaga B, Delgado-Mingorance S, Blas-Diaz A, Cantero L, Padial M, Matas ME, Martinez NM, Salas P, Reboredo A, Lopez-Moro A, Corbalan M, Latorre JA, Martinez-Bebia M, Gimenez-Blasi N, Garcia-Sola J and Sanchez-Moreno G (2021) Use of Social Media, Network Avenues, Blog and Scientific Information Systems Through the Website Promoting the Mediterranean Diet as a Method of a Health Safeguarding. Front. Commun. 6:599661. doi: 10.3389/fcomm.2021.599661

Received

27 August 2020

Accepted

10 March 2021

Published

06 April 2021

Volume

6 - 2021

Edited by

Enmanuel Antonio Chavarria, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, United States

Reviewed by

James Olumide Olufowote, University of Oklahoma, United States; Fatima Olea-Serrano, University of Granada, Spain; Ghadir Helal Salsa, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, United States

Updates

Copyright

*Correspondence: Miguel Mariscal-Arcas

This article was submitted to Health Communication, a section of the journal Frontiers in Communication

Disclaimer

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Outline

Cite article

Copy to clipboard


Export citation file


Share article

Article metrics