Please respond to colleague with substantial detail that provokes further discussion. Readily offers new interpretations of discussion material. Ideas are expressed clearly, concisely.

Discussion question:

1. Discuss how the Internet and social media has changed the practice of politics and policy issues in healthcare. Give specific examples from current events and issues.

2. What danger does media bias present to our health care system?

Discussion 1: (Angelica)

1. The internet and social media have had an enormous impact on the practice of politics and policy issues in healthcare. As relayed by Milstead (2022), social media comprises a critical exchange of political mobilization and socialization. It effectively influences political actions and attitude of individuals. Social media platforms including, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, are widely used throughout the world. Therefore, social media can be a valuable tool for disseminating and consuming information, promoting public awareness, and influencing policymaking about health (Charalambous, 2019). Political leaders and celebrities can publicize information quickly through such platforms which encourages transparency, communication, and engagement with the public. Information released on the internet is not fact-checked, which can cause detrimental effects in society. Internet and Social Media Broadly Impact Discussion

While social media and the internet can allow the public quick access to information, it can also cause harm. For example, during the COVID 19 epidemic, social media platforms were rampant with information regarding the virus, the death toll, and the ways by which healthcare providers were caring for patients. While some of the information was factual, some of it was not and there was no true way to decipher between fact and fiction. This caused unrest amongst the public and a distrust in our healthcare systems.

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Another example of how social media has changed policy issues in healthcare can be seen in a recent study published by Hughes (2023). The study explained how artificial intelligence was used to analyze Statin misinformation on Reddit. The results showed several false accusations including linking statins to COVID-19 outcomes. Here, it is apparent that online forums can be a dangerous place. People tend to be more honest on online forums than they would be sitting face-to-face with a practitioner. Therefore, they would be more likely to ask questions and have honest discussions about their health beliefs on these forums (Hughes, 2023). Understanding what is being discussed on social media is important as a clinician. If we can acknowledge that people are more inclined to turn to social media and the internet to guide their healthcare, then we can better treat our patients.

2. According to Milstead (2022), beliefs are thoughts or statements that individuals hold to be true regardless of whether they can be seen, felt, or proven. Bias develops from these opinions, values, and beliefs. Specifically, media bias can stretch the truth to the point that it becomes a lie (Milstead, 2022). Stories can be changed to influence, deceive, or misinform the audience. As relayed by Milstead (2022), two opposing political candidates trying to convince the public to vote for them can provide the public with false information just to obtain votes. A fact checker can verify the information. Internet and Social Media Broadly Impact Discussion Nonetheless, once the information has reached the public, it is hard to take it back, even if false. Therefore, media bias can have detrimental effects to our health care system and community.

For instance, there was a study released by Dr. Andrew Wakefield claiming to have found a link between the MMR vaccine and autism (Rao & Andrade, 2011). Epidemiologic studies were performed and published, which negated the link between MMR and autism. Despite scientific evidence disputing this study and the further retraction of the study, MMR vaccination rates began to drop as parents were concerned about the risk of autism associated with the vaccine. The information was relayed in such a way to make the public believe it was true. Dr. Wakefield ended up losing his license because of all the unrest he had caused. If the public believes false medical information, there will be higher incidences of illness and death.

Discussion 2: (Samantha)

1. The use of the Internet and social media in the past decades have created some positive and negative influences on the practice of politics and policy issues in health care. The internet and social media can be used as a great tool to spread awareness to a specific disease or health care issue. Fortunately, and unfortunately, both the internet and social media are places where anyone and everyone has an opinion and shares those opinions even if they are not based on facts. An example of this is the information that was continuously shared about the COVID-19 Pandemic. In the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the internet was a source of information that shared signs and symptoms, places where the spread of the disease was high, and areas to get tested. A study based in Jordan proved a statistically significant correlation between people who received information regarding health safety and the spread of COVID-19 and changes in health behaviors, (Al-Dmour et al, 2020). As time went on, social media was an area where many shared opinions on government policies regarding staying inside, vaccinations, and beliefs on where the COVID-19 Pandemic initiated. This created an environment of media bias. Media bias is when information is skewed about a news event or a careful selection of events to be reported in a sense to conform to a particular belief, (Short, 2022). With the use of the internet and social media, the public had more information about the health care system than ever before and interestingly had more respect for healthcare workers but also more criticism of health care choices than ever before.

2. As previously stated, media bias is when information is skewed about a news event or a careful selection of events to be reported in a sense to conform to a particular belief, (Short, 2022). The dangers that media bias presents to our health care system is the power it can have over the public’s opinion and what they are willing to comply with. According to a study conducted over the course of the first 3 months of the pandemic from March 2020 to June 2020 people that watched and trusted certain new outlets complied with different levels of safety and protection against COVID-19, (Zhao et al., 2020). “Results showed that compared with those who trust CNN more than Fox News, people who trust Fox News more than CNN engaged in fewer preventative behaviors and more risky behaviors related to COVID-19,” (Zhao et al., 2020).