Colorectal Cancer Racial Equity Post Volume, Content, and Exposure: Observational Study Using Twitter Data
BackgroundRacial inequity in health outcomes, particularly in colorectal cancer (CRC), remains one of the most pressing issues in cancer communication and public health. Social media platforms like Twitter (now X) provide opportunities to disseminate health equity information...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| Online Access: | https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e63864 |
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| author | Chau Tong Drew Margolin Jeff Niederdeppe Rumi Chunara Jiawei Liu Lea Jih-Vieira Andy J King |
| author_facet | Chau Tong Drew Margolin Jeff Niederdeppe Rumi Chunara Jiawei Liu Lea Jih-Vieira Andy J King |
| author_sort | Chau Tong |
| collection | DOAJ |
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BackgroundRacial inequity in health outcomes, particularly in colorectal cancer (CRC), remains one of the most pressing issues in cancer communication and public health. Social media platforms like Twitter (now X) provide opportunities to disseminate health equity information widely, yet little is known about the availability, content, and reach of racial health equity information related to CRC on these platforms. Addressing this gap is essential to leveraging social media for equitable health communication.
ObjectiveThis study aims to analyze the volume, content, and exposure of CRC racial health equity tweets from identified CRC equity disseminator accounts on Twitter. These accounts were defined as those actively sharing information related to racial equity in CRC outcomes. By examining the behavior and impact of these disseminators, this study provides insights into how health equity content is shared and received on social media.
MethodsWe identified accounts that posted CRC-related content on Twitter between 2019 and 2021. Accounts were classified as CRC equity disseminators (n=798) if they followed at least 2 CRC racial equity organization accounts. We analyzed the volume and content of racial equity–related CRC tweets (n=1134) from these accounts and categorized them by account type (experts vs nonexperts). Additionally, we evaluated exposure by analyzing follower reach (n=6,266,269) and the role of broker accounts—accounts serving as unique sources of CRC racial equity information to their followers.
ResultsAmong 19,559 tweets posted by 798 CRC equity disseminators, only 5.8% (n=1134) mentioned racially and ethnically minoritized groups. Most of these tweets (641/1134, 57%) addressed disparities in outcomes, while fewer emphasized actionable content, such as symptoms (11/1134, 1%) or screening procedures (159/1134, 14%). Expert accounts (n=479; 716 tweets) were more likely to post CRC equity tweets compared with nonexpert accounts (n=319; 418 tweets). Broker accounts (n=500), or those with a substantial portion of followers relying on them for equity-related information, demonstrated the highest capacity for exposing followers to CRC equity content, thereby extending the reach of these critical messages to underserved communities.
ConclusionsThis study emphasizes the critical roles played by expert and broker accounts in disseminating CRC racial equity information on social media. Despite the limited volume of equity-focused content, broker accounts were crucial in reaching otherwise unexposed audiences. Public health practitioners should focus on encouraging equity disseminators to share more actionable information, such as symptoms and screening benefits, and implement measures to amplify the reach of such content on social media. Strengthening these efforts could help bridge disparities in cancer outcomes among racially minoritized groups. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ad3fcd6600564651954bb224e2921549 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1438-8871 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-ad3fcd6600564651954bb224e29215492025-02-03T19:00:34ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712025-02-0127e6386410.2196/63864Colorectal Cancer Racial Equity Post Volume, Content, and Exposure: Observational Study Using Twitter DataChau Tonghttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6609-9889Drew Margolinhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0257-6217Jeff Niederdeppehttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7686-1526Rumi Chunarahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5346-7259Jiawei Liuhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8389-0197Lea Jih-Vieirahttps://orcid.org/0009-0004-6302-3530Andy J Kinghttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2789-2550 BackgroundRacial inequity in health outcomes, particularly in colorectal cancer (CRC), remains one of the most pressing issues in cancer communication and public health. Social media platforms like Twitter (now X) provide opportunities to disseminate health equity information widely, yet little is known about the availability, content, and reach of racial health equity information related to CRC on these platforms. Addressing this gap is essential to leveraging social media for equitable health communication. ObjectiveThis study aims to analyze the volume, content, and exposure of CRC racial health equity tweets from identified CRC equity disseminator accounts on Twitter. These accounts were defined as those actively sharing information related to racial equity in CRC outcomes. By examining the behavior and impact of these disseminators, this study provides insights into how health equity content is shared and received on social media. MethodsWe identified accounts that posted CRC-related content on Twitter between 2019 and 2021. Accounts were classified as CRC equity disseminators (n=798) if they followed at least 2 CRC racial equity organization accounts. We analyzed the volume and content of racial equity–related CRC tweets (n=1134) from these accounts and categorized them by account type (experts vs nonexperts). Additionally, we evaluated exposure by analyzing follower reach (n=6,266,269) and the role of broker accounts—accounts serving as unique sources of CRC racial equity information to their followers. ResultsAmong 19,559 tweets posted by 798 CRC equity disseminators, only 5.8% (n=1134) mentioned racially and ethnically minoritized groups. Most of these tweets (641/1134, 57%) addressed disparities in outcomes, while fewer emphasized actionable content, such as symptoms (11/1134, 1%) or screening procedures (159/1134, 14%). Expert accounts (n=479; 716 tweets) were more likely to post CRC equity tweets compared with nonexpert accounts (n=319; 418 tweets). Broker accounts (n=500), or those with a substantial portion of followers relying on them for equity-related information, demonstrated the highest capacity for exposing followers to CRC equity content, thereby extending the reach of these critical messages to underserved communities. ConclusionsThis study emphasizes the critical roles played by expert and broker accounts in disseminating CRC racial equity information on social media. Despite the limited volume of equity-focused content, broker accounts were crucial in reaching otherwise unexposed audiences. Public health practitioners should focus on encouraging equity disseminators to share more actionable information, such as symptoms and screening benefits, and implement measures to amplify the reach of such content on social media. Strengthening these efforts could help bridge disparities in cancer outcomes among racially minoritized groups.https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e63864 |
| spellingShingle | Chau Tong Drew Margolin Jeff Niederdeppe Rumi Chunara Jiawei Liu Lea Jih-Vieira Andy J King Colorectal Cancer Racial Equity Post Volume, Content, and Exposure: Observational Study Using Twitter Data Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| title | Colorectal Cancer Racial Equity Post Volume, Content, and Exposure: Observational Study Using Twitter Data |
| title_full | Colorectal Cancer Racial Equity Post Volume, Content, and Exposure: Observational Study Using Twitter Data |
| title_fullStr | Colorectal Cancer Racial Equity Post Volume, Content, and Exposure: Observational Study Using Twitter Data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Colorectal Cancer Racial Equity Post Volume, Content, and Exposure: Observational Study Using Twitter Data |
| title_short | Colorectal Cancer Racial Equity Post Volume, Content, and Exposure: Observational Study Using Twitter Data |
| title_sort | colorectal cancer racial equity post volume content and exposure observational study using twitter data |
| url | https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e63864 |
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