Learning in the Digital Age: The Rise of Social Media in Continuing Education

As younger health care professionals (HCPs) continue to enter the workforce, the continuing education (CE) landscape is shifting to accommodate the preferences of a new generation of learners. Younger HCPs generally favor learning that is interactive, hands-on, and involves technology. Therefore, traditional didactic lectures are not always the best medium for educating this growing sector of HCPs. Social media offers a unique opportunity to reach HCPs and accommodate the learning preferences of many participants. Medical writers who work in the CE field as grant writers, instructional designers, and content creators should be aware of the evolving role of social media in CE, as well as the benefits and challenges associated with this educational format.