Abstract
Given the popularity and reach of Instagram among American adolescents and young adults (AYA), the well-known influence of social media on the behaviors of youth, and the rising rates of melanoma in this age group, this study sought to examine and describe the content of a sample of Instagram posts related to skin cancer. At three different times, a search of Instagram was conducted using #skincancer as the hashtag. Descriptive analyses of Instagram characteristics and content was performed. Overall, content focused on prevention (33.3%), skin cancer treatment (29.3%) and preventive measures such as using sunscreen and protective gear (29.3%). Nearly one-quarter discussed the ABCDEs (Asymmetrical; Borders are irregular; Color is not even; Diameter is large; Evolving) of screening and detection. Instagram postings that covered skin cancer prevention (n = 50, 33.3%) more often discussed the role of sun exposure in the development of skin cancer (28.0% vs. 10.0%, p = 0.005) and use of sunscreen and protective gear (62.0% vs. 13.0%, p < 0.001). The findings of this study indicate that a considerable portion of the Instagram posts included in this study focused on prevention. Thus, indicating that Instagram could be used to promote health, particularly among AYA.
-
Funding: None declared.
-
Conflicts of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest.
References
[1] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The surgeon general’s call to action to prevent skin cancer. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General; 2014.Search in Google Scholar
[2] Mitsis DK, Groman A, Beaupin LM, Salerno KE, Francescutti V, Skitzki JJ, et al. Trends in demographics, incidence, and survival in children, adolescents and young adults (AYA) with melanoma: a Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) population-based analysis. J Clin Oncol. 2015;33(15 Suppl):9058.10.1200/jco.2015.33.15_suppl.9058Search in Google Scholar
[3] Hillhouse J, Thompson JK, Jacobsen PB, Hillhouse J. Investigating the role of appearance-based factors in predicting sunbathing and tanning salon use. J Behav Med. 2009;32(6):532–44.10.1007/s10865-009-9224-5Search in Google Scholar PubMed
[4] Smith K. 49 Incredible Instagram statistics. Brandwatch; 2019. Available from: https://www.brandwatch.com/blog/instagram-stats/.Search in Google Scholar
[5] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What is skin cancer? 2019. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/what-is-skin-cancer.htm.Search in Google Scholar
[6] Basch CH, Basch CE, Hillyer GC, Reeves R. YouTube videos related to skin cancer: a missed opportunity for cancer prevention and control. JMIR Cancer. 2015;1(1):1–8.10.2196/cancer.4204Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
© 2020 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston