YouTube as a Source of Information on Air Pollution: Significance for Community Health.

Air pollution is a pervasive global public health threat. The purpose of this study was to assess the content of 100 widely viewed English language YouTube videos on air pollution using the search term 'air pollution.' Content categories were created using comprehensive fact sheets and were coded as being present or not in each video. Cumulatively, the 100 videos sampled received 32,826,294 views and 303,692 likes, with averages of 328,263 and 3,068 respectively. The majority of videos (n = 72) were created by broadcast or internet-based news, 12 of the videos were created by professionals, 7 were created by a consumer and 9 were created by others. Three kinds of content were featured in a majority (> 50%) of the videos: "sources of pollution," "environmental impacts," and "solutions offered" and the videos covering each of these topics collectively garnered more than 26 million views and 249,000 likes. Independent one-tailed t-tests (α = 0.05) showed an association between covering sources of pollution and the number of views and likes. For both, videos featuring this content had a higher average number of views (467,391.08 vs. 80,924.03, p = .0383) and likes (4,450.78 vs. 647.03, p = .0383). Additionally, videos showing environmental impacts received more views than those that did not (547,901.49 vs. 80,585.43, p = .0373). This research can serve as a starting point to describe information being conveyed about an important global public health problem. Future research is needed to improve understanding about ways to utilize YouTube and other social media for public health education and advocacy to increase consumers' awareness and facilitate the informed decision-making process.

Micromobility Vehicles, Obstructions, and Rider Safety Behaviors in New York City Bike Lanes.

Micromobility vehicles (MMVs) have become increasingly popular, particularly in urban areas where infrastructure has improved in recent years to facilitate their use. The purpose of this study was to observe protected bike lanes in 10 zones of Manhattan, NYC to: (1) describe the MMVs in bike lanes by type, phone and helmet use; and (2) document MMV users' responses to obstructions. Approximately 1 in 4 of all riders (260/998) were wearing a helmet. Fewer than 2% were observed using a phone while moving. Fewer than 9% of Citi Bike users were wearing a helmet. In contrast, over one-third of non-Citi Bike users were wearing a helmet (228 of 670, 34.03%). This difference was determined to be significant by a chi-squared test (a = 0.05) with a p-value less than 0.0001. Of the 988 MMVs observed in this study, 398 (40.28%) were motorized and 590 (59.72%) were non-motorized. A similar proportion of users of motorized riders versus non-motorized vehicles were wearing a helmet (28.14%, 112/398 versus 24.41%, 144/590). A total of 232 riders (23.50%) encountered an obstruction in their bike lane. Of these obstructions in a bike lane, 82.33% (191/232) were a car/vehicle and 17.67% (41/232) was garbage. A large majority of riders (87.93%) reacted by riding into the traffic lane. These findings suggest that further research and local education, enforcement, and legislative efforts are needed to examine and implement best practices in the safe operation of MMVs, decreasing bike lane obstructions, promoting helmet use, and raising awareness of MMV legislation.

Discussing health while seeking community: A descriptive study of celiac disease on TikTok.

Background: For individuals suffering from chronic disease, more than being an information source for health information, social media serves as a dynamic forum for shared goals, emotional and practical support through the sharing of lived experiences. Aim: This study envisaged a content analysis of the 100 most widely-viewed English language videos related to celiac disease posted on TikTok. Methods: TikTok was searched using the hashtag #celiacdisease. This search term was chosen as it represented the broadest summation of the desired topic with the most views (80 million) of any related hashtag. The first 100 English language videos were selected. The video content was analyzed against predetermined descriptive categories, deductively derived content related to facts about celiac disease from a reliable source, and inductive content categories derived during the coding process. Results: The 100 videos included in this study received a total of 44,056,600 likes. The average number of likes across all videos was 440,566 with a standard deviation of 656,642.06. Two of the three categories were present in a majority (>50) of the videos. They were practical information on diet therapy management (n = 63) and challenges in managing celiac disease (n = 73). In both instances, videos featuring this content also garnered a majority of the likes, 74.18% and 82.9% respectively. Independent one-tailed t-tests (α = .05) returned significant results for the diagnosis-related information (p = .0390) and practical information in diet therapy management (p = .0358) categories. On average, videos that included diagnosis-related information received more likes than those that did not: 672,983.33 vs. 340,958.57. Similarly, the average number of likes was significantly higher for videos that included practical information on diet therapy management (518,715.87) vs. those that did not (307,500). Conclusions: This study further confirms the growing trend of people using social media to discuss health issues in a way that is free and easily accessible among communities with shared experiences. The long-term effects of using personal narratives as credible sources of behavioral change for health, medical, or professional resources can be further investigated.

#Climate Change on TikTok: A Content Analysis of Videos.

Current day youth have an important role in climate activism, as the decisions and policies made now will have long lasting impacts on the climate and sustainability. Climate change is becoming an increasing concern for younger generations. As such, the purpose of this study was to describe content related to climate change on TikTok. This study included 100 English-language videos related to climate change featured on TikTok. The hashtag #climatechange was chosen because it had the most views of any related hashtag at the time of the study. The number of views, comments, and likes were recorded for each video. Each video was also observed for the presence of predetermined content characteristics. The 100 videos sampled collectively received 205,551,200 views, 40, 203,400 likes, and 666,089 comments. Only eight of the 100 videos included information from a reputable source. Only three of the characteristics were featured in a majority (> 50) of the videos. These were, presents climate change as real (93), affected populations (76), and climate anxiety/frustration (57). Videos mentioning natural disasters garnered 63,453,100 (30.87%) views, 14,245,200 (35.43%) likes, and 236,493 (35.50%) comments. In all, 73 of the 100 videos mentioned at least one environmental impact. Videos including this theme earned 156,677,200 (76.22%) views, 32,000,700 (79.60%) likes, and 563,195 (84.55%) comments. Social media platforms such as TikTok are important tools for understanding popular opinion regarding public health issues such as global climate change. However, the presence of credible professionals is essential on platforms such as TikTok to increase the chances that messaging is as comprehensive as time allows, while also being scientifically sound.

Debate in Public Versus Independent Secondary Schools in New York City: Post-COVID-19 Health literacy and Equal Access to Basic Educational Opportunities.

Speech and debate (referred to hereafter as debate) has the potential to play an integral role in increasing the health literacy of secondary school students, yet we did not identify published studies examining the prevalence of debate programs in public and independent secondary schools. The purpose of this study was to describe the presence of debate in a probability sample of public and independent secondary schools in New York City (NYC) and explore whether there were differences in the availability of debate programs when schools were classified based on public versus independent status, school enrollment, borough location, and proportion of non-white students enrolled. The sampling frame was constructed using NYC Open Data for the public schools and the publicly available membership directory of the New York State Association of Independent Schools. This cross-sectional study included a ~ 30% random sample comprising 255 public and 17 independent secondary schools. To identify whether schools offered debate programs, school websites were reviewed and follow-up calls were conducted to verify the information online. Independent one-tailed t-tests (a = 0.05), showed that access to a debate program was associated with public/independent status (p = .0000), larger enrollment (p = .0046), borough location (p = .0392), and proportion of non-white students enrolled (p = .0000). Schools with a higher proportion of non-white students were less likely to offer debate programs. Compared with students in public schools, students attending independent schools were more than three times as likely to have debate opportunities. These findings have implications for health literacy and educational equity.

Candy, Snack Food, and Soda in the Checkout Lines of Stores Selling Products for Children in New York City.

While genetic and hormonal factors likely play a role in the development of obesity, lifestyle issues such as diet and physical activity are main contributors. Lifestyle issues are largely influenced by environmental factors, which pertain not only to access and availability, but exposure to opportunities for unplanned food and beverage purchases. The purpose of this study was to describe the extent to which candy, snack foods, and sugary beverages are available in checkout lines in a convenience sample retail chain stores in NYC that sell products for children. Non-probability, convenience sampling was used to select a total of 22 stores to visit in person. All stores were visited and the checkout lines were observed, capturing both the checkout style (single lane versus multiple lane; corralled or non-corralled), and the products (if any) being sold. Of the 22 stores surveyed, 17 (77.27%) sold at least one convenience food (candy and snacks), and/or sugary beverages. Among the stores that sell convenience food, nearly all (82.35%) sell candy, 100% of those with no corral-style line and 76.92% of those using a corral-style line. The findings from this study concur with prior research indicating that non-nutritious food items and sugary beverages have a presence at checkout areas of retail stores, thus driving the possibility for impulse buys. Exposure to messaging and ques are potentially influential on public health, and should be a point of reflection in terms of the kinds of policies that can support or hinder public health.

Assessing the Readability of Covid-19 Testing Messages on the Internet.

The COVID-19 pandemic first became evident at the end of 2019, and because of the many unknown aspects of this emerging infectious disease, the internet quickly became a source of information for consumers. It is important for any vital information to be written unambiguously, and at a level that can be understood by all people regardless of education levels. The purpose of this study was to assess the readability of 50 sources of COVID19 testing information online. Only 6 websites out of 50 received an appropriate readability score on more than one assessment. One-sample, one-tailed t-tests (α = 0.05, df = 49) were used to see if the websites with information on COVID-19 testing are being written at appropriate reading levels. The resulting p-values indicate that each p-value recorded is substantially below 0.05, it is very unlikely that websites on this topic are being written at the recommended levels. Even the optimal messages on COVID-19 reflect a confusing and rapidly changing public health crisis, however if messages are kept simple and clear, individuals will have the best possible chance of optimizing behavioral mitigation strategies. These are compelling reasons for informational hosts to take necessary steps to ensure that messages are written in as simple terms as possible. To this end, it is suggested that internet sites dispersing COVID-19 testing information build in text analysis methods for all published messages, particularly those meant to inform best health practices in the time of a pandemic.

Communicating Mental Health Support to College Students During COVID-19: An Exploration of Website Messaging.

College counseling centers are assumed to play a vital role in addressing students' mental health needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to characterize the extent to which NYC metropolitan area school websites communicated to students their updated mental health service offerings, psychoeducational information related to COVID-19, and community-based resources after the abrupt end to on-campus services during the Spring semester. A total of 138 websites were analyzed. Overall, only half of the surveyed web pages provided information about remote counseling, and just under two thirds of schools (57.97%) had directions for students experiencing a mental health emergency. As predicted, enrollment size was associated with whether psychoeducation about mental health and COVID-19 and information about remote counseling were available on a school's website. In both cases, medium-sized schools were the most likely to have these resources available on their websites as compared to small and large-sized schools. College counseling center web pages should include robust and current information that targets schools' diverse student bodies.

Most liked #monkeypox videos on TikTok: Implications for infection control.

This cross-sectional study describes the content of the 100 most liked videos on TikTok using the hashtag #monkeypox. The videos in the sample received 472,866,669 views and 56,434,700 likes. Most (67%) of the videos were created by consumers. Mentions or suggestions of exposure were the only content characteristic included in a majority of the videos (N = 54). Over a third of the sample used parody, memes, or satire (38%), which were derogatory.

Lost in print: difficulty in reading online information pertaining to phenylketonuria.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is the most prevalent inborn error of amino acid metabolism, necessitating patients to strictly restrict dietary phenylalanine. As this can be a confusing and concerning diagnosis, patients and loved ones will likely be drawn to learn more. A critical factor for citizens to harness the health-related digital information is to ensure that it is easy to read. This study assessed the readability of 100 digital articles related to PKU and explored the effect of the source of online information on the readability of these articles. For each article, 5 readability tests were conducted using on-line readability software. From the 100 assessed websites, 34% were commercially sourced. Of the remaining 66 sites, 40% had.org and 17% had.gov extensions. All 5 tests confirm that a large majority of the sample was written at an unacceptable reading level. In fact, over two-thirds of the sample received a readability score within the difficult range for three of the tests, while the remaining two deemed 49% and 45% of the sample as difficult to read, respectively. Commercially sourced websites were deemed to be more difficult to read than the other sites with respect to the two of the five measures. Despite the large amount of PKU information online, most of it may be incomprehensible to the average person and thus miss the mark in helping patients and caregivers manage their condition. Opportunities exist for authors of digital health promotional information to effectively achieve their goal by using comprehensible, easy-to-read language.

What do popular YouTube videos say about genetically modified foods? A content analysis.

Purpose: YouTube is one of the most popular media sharing platforms that facilitates both professionals and lay people to participate in dissemination of knowledge and opinions. Its wide-reaching impact allows both top-down and bottom-up flow of information between experts and lay audience. With a vast proportion of Americans obtaining health-related information digitally, the purpose of this study was to describe the content of 100 most viewed YouTube videos in the English language, specific to genetically modified foods (GMFs). Methods: Using the search terms "genetically modified foods" the URLs and metadata for 100 English YouTube videos with the highest viewership were curated. Each video was viewed, and dichotomously coded for the absence or presence of ten content categories. Descriptive statistics, percentages of categorical variables and independent one-tailed t-tests (α=.05) were conducted to assess the statistical effect of the absence or presence of these categories on the number of views and likes garnered by the videos. Results: Cumulatively, the 100 videos observed received 65,536,885 views and 1,328,605 likes. Only 7% of the videos were created by professionally credentialed individuals or organizations. More than 90% of the sampled videos described GMFs with an example, 50% mentioned their role in alleviating hunger, and 65% mentioned ecological concerns attributed to GMFs. Conclusions: Our results underscore the need for health professionals to increase their digital presence on online media sharing platforms such as YouTube, and capitalize on its pervasiveness as potential conduits of accurate scientific information to equip consumers make evidence-based, informed decision regarding GMFs.

#StopAsianHate: A content analysis of TikTok videos focused on racial discrimination against Asians and Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted in January 2022 reviewed 100 TikTok videos using the hashtag #StopAsianHate. Categoriesof Asian and Asian American (referred to hereafter as Asian) abuse/attack (N = 57) and awareness of Asian hate & hate crimes (N = 52) were observed in over 50% of videos. The following themes were of significance: Asian abuse/attack (p = .0079), awareness of Asian hate and hate crimes (p < .0001), somber tone/expression of sadness (p = .0025), stop Asian hate messages (p = .0380), media report of Asian hate crime (p =.0004), and mention of COVID/virus is hate p=.0103). Thus, the videos which raised awareness and specifically focused on abuse were more likely to be shared. TikTok is being used as a space for marginalized groups to raise consciousness on public health issues and injustices. These insights can potentially inform health communication efforts, cultural competency training, and targeted mental health support to address health equity and improve public health outcomes of Asian.

Deconstructing TikTok Videos on Mental Health: Cross-sectional, Descriptive Content Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Social media platforms that are based on the creation of visual media, such as TikTok, are increasingly popular with adolescents. Online social media networks provide valuable opportunities to connect with each other to share experiences and strategies for health and wellness. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the content of the hashtag #mentalhealth on TikTok. METHODS: This cross-sectional, descriptive content analysis study included 100 videos with the hashtag #mentalhealth on TikTok. All videos that included the hashtag #mentalhealth were analyzed and coded for the presence of content categories. Additionally, the comments to each video were viewed and coded for content in the following themes: offering support or validation; mentioning experience with suicide or suicidal ideation; mentioning experience with self-harm; describing an experience with hospitalization for mental health issues; describing other mental health issues; and sharing coping strategies, experiences of healing, or ways to feel better. RESULTS: Collectively, the 100 videos studied received 1,354,100,000 views; 266,900,000 likes; and 2,515,954 comments. On average, each video received 13,406,930.69 (SD 8,728,095.52) views; 2,657,425.74 (SD 1,449,920.45) likes; and 24,910.44 (SD 21,035.06) comments. The only content category observed in most (51/100, 51%) of the videos included in the sample was "general mental health." The remaining content categories appeared in less than 50% of the sample. In total, 32% (32/100) of the videos sampled received more than the overall average number of likes (ie, more that 2.67 million likes). Among these 32 videos, 23 (72%) included comments offering support or validation and 20 (62%) included comments that described other mental health issues or struggles. CONCLUSIONS: With over 1 billion cumulative views, almost half of the assessed TikTok videos included in this study reported or expressed symptoms of mental distress. Future research should focus on the potential role of intervention by health care professionals on social media.

Preeclampsia information on the internet: An application of five readability tests.

The purpose of this study was to determine the readability level of information on 100 unique websites with information on preeclampsia. Five different readability measures were used to measure each website's readability via an online readability calculator. All five readability measures determined that a vast majority of the sites sampled were written at unacceptable levels (89%+). Independent one-tailed t-tests (α = 0.05) determined that there was no statistical difference in the readability scores of.com vs the other websites on any of the 5 readability assessments. We recommend that efforts be made to simplify language in accordance with plain language recommendations for health information in the United States.

Handwashing videos on TikTok during the COVID-19 pandemic: Potential for disease prevention and health promotion.

BACKGROUND: Handwashing has long been promoted to maintain health and in preventing disease transmission. One of the most valuable ways to convey messages related to handwashing is through visual display, such as video for educational purposes and to enhance learning. Social media is an important and popular way to disseminate messages to a wide audience. METHODS: In this cross-sectional, descriptive study, two hashtags, #WashYourHands and #SafeguardSplash were used to select the sample of 100 from available TikTok videos. In order to code each video, the same coding categories were used for both hashtags, including (1) wetting and rinsing hands (2) lathering soap (3) time used for scrubbing (4) drying hands (5) mentions COVID-19 (6) mentions using hand sanitizer instead of soap (7) mentions how germs spread (8) mentions key times to wash hands (9) and actual depiction of washing hands. Additional descriptive categories were coded as well. The observations recorded were tabulated and descriptive statistics were performed. Independent one-tailed t-tests (α = .05) were calculated to determine if a video's hashtag had a significant association with its garnered views, likes, and/or comments. RESULTS: In total, the 100-video sample received 1,990,834,567 views, 40,355,468 likes, and 173,422 comments. Despite the fact that each hashtag made up an equal proportion (50%) of the total sample, videos with #WashYourHands accounted for 93.3% of the total views. Coverage of the important steps involved in handwashing, such as drying hands, was minimal as was relevant background information. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that while this opportunity is being realized to some degree, the majority of videos did not cover topics related important concepts of hand hygiene. Given the high engagement of younger audiences with TikTok, this could be a powerful mechanism for demonstrating and encouraging proper handwashing, especially in a population with low rates of handwashing.

Investigating #covidnurse Messages on TikTok: Descriptive Study.

BACKGROUND: During a time of high stress and decreased social interaction, nurses have turned to social media platforms like TikTok as an outlet for expression, entertainment, and communication. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this cross-sectional content analysis study is to describe the content of videos with the hashtag #covidnurse on TikTok, which included 100 videos in the English language. METHODS: At the time of the study, this hashtag had 116.9 million views. Each video was coded for content-related to what nurses encountered and were feeling during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: Combined, the 100 videos sampled received 47,056,700 views; 76,856 comments; and 5,996,676 likes. There were 4 content categories that appeared in a majority (>50) of the videos: 83 showed the individual as a nurse, 72 showed the individual in professional attire, 58 mentioned/suggested stress, 55 used music, and 53 mentioned/suggested frustration. Those that mentioned stress and those that mentioned frustration received less than 50% of the total views (n=21,726,800, 46.17% and n=16,326,300, 34.69%, respectively). Although not a majority, 49 of the 100 videos mentioned the importance of nursing. These videos garnered 37.41% (n=17,606,000) of the total views, 34.82% (n=26,759) of the total comments, and 23.85% (n=1,430,213) of the total likes. So, despite nearly half of the total videos mentioning how important nurses are, these videos received less than half of the total views, comments, and likes. CONCLUSIONS: Social media and increasingly video-related online messaging such as TikTok are important platforms for social networking, social support, entertainment, and education on diverse topics, including health in general and COVID-19 specifically. This presents an opportunity for future research to assess the utility of the TikTok platform for meaningful engagement and health communication on important public health issues.

A content analysis of direct-to-consumer DNA testing on TikTok.

Despite the fact that the internet is a popular source of health information, limited research has been conducted on the ways in which direct-to-consumer (DTC) DNA testing has been discussed by consumers on the internet, and on social media platforms specifically. The purpose of this study was to describe the content of 100 videos that addressed DTC DNA testing on TikTok, a video-sharing social network. The 100 videos included had a combined 77,498 comments and 9,680,309 likes.The majority (> 50%) of videos reviewed mentioned using DTC DNA testing kits to find family roots (94%), included information on commercial DNA testing kits (67%), and featured a person taking or talking about taking a DNA test (92%). These videos also received a majority of the total comments/likes. Neither the use of music (p = .06 and p = .07) nor the mention of using DNA testing to locate family (p = .08 and p = .09) had a significant effect on a video's comments or likes, respectively. Genetic counselors, health care providers, and public health professionals should be aware that there is a need to present both benefits and disadvantages of DTC DNA testing on social media platforms. A greater presence of comprehensive information on social media platforms can increase the likelihood that one makes erudite decisions.

How did individuals on Instagram discuss COVID-19 in the month following official pandemic status? A examination of user content.

OBJECTIVES: Instagram is a popular social media site used by high numbers of young people. This study was designed to investigate COVID-19 content on Instagram during the month following official pandemic status from the World Health Organization (WHO). METHODS: A total of 200 posts were collected and analyzed over a four-week period between mid-February and mid-March 2020. RESULTS: The vast majority of posts did not address recommended prevention measures. Further, only approximately one-third of the posts referenced a reputable source. Finally, the nature of posts changed over time was impacted by type of poster and reflected a tone of anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: The findings underscore the urgent need for public health officials to be aware of and address social media content on novel health threats. Furthermore, it is imperative that communicating risk on social media, such as Instagram be geared to young people. Failure to do so may hinder prevention, mitigation, and suppression strategies.

Videos With the Hashtag #vaping on TikTok and Implications for Informed Decision-making by Adolescents: Descriptive Study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the public health importance of vaping and the widespread use of TikTok by adolescents and young adults, research is lacking on the nature and scope of vaping content on this networking service. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to describe the content of TikTok videos related to vaping. METHODS: By searching the hashtag #vaping in the discover feature, ~478.4 million views were seen during the time of data collection. The first 100 relevant videos under that hashtag were used in this study. Relevance was determined by simply noting if the video was related in any way to vaping. Coding consisted of several categories directly related to vaping and additional categories, including the number of likes, comments, and views, and if the video involved music, humor, or dance. RESULTS: The 100 videos included in the sample garnered 156,331,347 views; 20,335,800 likes; and 296,460 comments. The majority of the videos (n=59) used music and over one-third (n=37) used humor. The only content category observed in the majority of the videos sampled was the promotion of vaping, which was included in 57 videos that garnered over 74 million views (47.5% of cumulative views). A total of 42% (n=42) of the 100 videos sampled featured someone vaping or in the presence of vape pens, and these videos garnered over 22% (>35 million) of the total views. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary for public health agencies to improve understanding of the nature and content of videos that attract viewers' attention and harness the strength of this communication channel to promote informed decision-making about vaping.

Discussion of Weight Loss Surgery in Instagram Posts: Successive Sampling Study.

BACKGROUND: The majority of American adults search for health and illness information on the internet. However, the quality and accuracy of this information are notoriously variable. With the advent of social media, US individuals have increasingly shared their own health and illness experiences, including those related to bariatric surgery, on social media platforms. Previous research has found that peer-to-peer requesting and giving of advice related to bariatric surgery on social media is common, that such advice is often presented in stark terms, and that the advice may not reflect patient standards of care. These previous investigations have helped to map bariatric surgery content on Facebook and YouTube. OBJECTIVE: This objective of this study was to document and compare weight loss surgery (WLS)-related content on Instagram in the months leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic and 1 year later. METHODS: We analyzed a total of 300 Instagram posts (50 posts per week for 3 consecutive weeks in late February and early March in both 2020 and 2021) uploaded using the hashtag #wls. Descriptive statistics were reported, and independent 1-tailed chi-square tests were used to determine if a post's publication year statistically affected its inclusion of a particular type of content. RESULTS: Overall, advice giving and personal responsibility for outcomes were emphasized by WLS posters on Instagram. However, social support was less emphasized. The safety, challenges, and risks associated with WLS were rarely discussed. The majority of posts did not contain references to facts from reputable medical sources. Posts published in 2021 were more likely to mention stress/hardships of living with WLS (45/150, 30%, vs 29/150, 19.3%; P=.03); however, those published in 2020 more often identified the importance of ongoing support for WLS success (35/150, 23.3%, vs 16/150, 10.7%; P=.004). CONCLUSIONS: Given that bariatric patients have low rates of postoperative follow-up, yet post-operative care and yet support are associated with improved health and weight loss outcomes, and given that health content on the web is of mixed accuracy, bariatric professionals may wish to consider including an online support forum moderated by a professional as a routine part of postoperative care. Doing so may not only improve follow-up rates but may offer providers the opportunity to counter inaccuracies encountered on social media.