Educating and Shaping Healthy Habits through Social Media

Abstract Background Social media is a major phenomenon of modern society with impact on young people's lifestyles. Today's youth consider it their main communication channel, even in matters of nutrition and lifestyle. Social media can inspire positive changes but also promotes unrealistic beauty standards. From a public health standpoint, it is a powerful tool for education and communication, promoting healthier choices through a medium widely used by young generations. Objectives To explore social media's potential to influence young people's lifestyle habits. To educate them on risks such as misinformation, body shaming, and unattainable beauty ideals. To share evidence-based information about healthy living via social media. Results An online survey was completed by 267 respondents under 25. About 63% used social media for 2-5 hours daily; Instagram was the most used platform (66%). 77% said social media motivated lifestyle changes, and 55% used it to support healthier eating. 86% were aware of unrealistic beauty standards being promoted online. Conclusions Current trends in Generation Z-and increasingly in Generation Alpha-are centered around social media. Based on our findings, we carried out an educational activity using an interactive map to highlight both the risks and opportunities of using social media for lifestyle change. This challenges and advantages for public health. Social media offers strong potential to support health promotion and positive behavior. Public health must respond to these trends and use social media to teach healthy lifestyle habits. Key messages • Young people see social media as a motivator for lifestyle changes, aware of unrealistic beauty standards and their influence. • Public health professionals should utilize social media for education, health promotion, and improving health literacy, as it is the primary communication tool for today’s youth.