Social Media News and Research

Latest Social Media News and Research

KFF poll finds vaccine myths reach many Americans but convince few

KFF’s 2026 tracking poll found that many U.S. adults have heard common vaccine myths, including false claims about MMR, COVID-19, mRNA vaccines, and measles vaccines. Fewer adults strongly believe these myths, but a large, uncertain “malleable middle” remains, especially among those without a trusted health care provider, frequent social media users, some AI health-information users, and parents who delayed or skipped childhood vaccines.

1 Jul 2026

Opioid prescribing after pediatric surgery varies widely across hospitals

Whether children receive an opioid prescription after surgery varies substantially by procedure type and hospital, according to a new national analysis published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS).

1 Jul 2026

Depression-like behavior may accelerate endocrine aging in primates

A new review was published in Volume 18 of Aging on June 11, 2026, titled "Age-related dysfunctions of the neuroendocrine axes in nonhuman primates with depression-like and anxious behavior."

1 Jul 2026

Study provides evidence-based reassurance that baby-led weaning supports normal infant weight gain

When it's time to add solid food to a baby's diet, is it best to spoon feed purées – the conventional approach – or to allow the baby to feed herself soft finger foods?

1 Jul 2026

Scientists map how cellular senescence and stemness interact in disease

A new review was published in Volume 18 of Aging on May 30, 2026, titled "The love and hate relationship between cellular senescence and stemness."

29 Jun 2026

Fear of growing up declines as adults gain experience

As young adults, many millennials feared growing up more than past generations. But they've come around to it as they age, finds research published by the American Psychological Association.

26 Jun 2026

Compact city strategies increase care burdens in shrinking small municipalities

As populations decline and age across the developed world, compact city strategies, which oversee the consolidation of urban facilities and guiding residents toward transit-served hubs, have become mainstream policies.

26 Jun 2026

Social media linked to worse mental health in Canadian seniors

Different digital communication tools are associated with mental health in different ways among older adults in Canada, according to a new study published June 24, 2026 in the open access journal PLOS Global Public Health by Hossam Ali-Hassan of York University, Canada, and colleagues.

24 Jun 2026

AACR report highlights unequal burden of cancer in the United States

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) today released its Cancer Disparities Progress Report 2026, a comprehensive analysis of the unequal burden of cancer in the United States.

24 Jun 2026

Most IVF add-ons lack evidence of fertility benefits

There is a lack of evidence to suggest the majority of in vitro fertilization (IVF) add-ons improve fertility in patients undergoing IVF, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women's Health journal.

24 Jun 2026

Americans favor information and school restrictions for ultra processed foods

If your social media feed has suddenly filled with content about ultra-processed foods (UPFs), you're far from alone. Since Health and Human Services tasked federal agencies last year with developing UPF guidelines, the buzz has been hard to miss.

23 Jun 2026

Curtin University projects explore youth health issues in Western Australia

Curtin University Curtin University researchers will examine the 'partygoing' behaviours of young people in regional areas, the use of nicotine pouches and ways to promote physical activity among young people as part of new projects funded by Healthway.

23 Jun 2026

Prolonged Instagram use may change how the brain perceives our bodies

Instagram use could influence not only how we see our bodies, but also how our brain perceives as "ours" the bodies we inhabit.

19 Jun 2026

Resistance training reduces major heart disease risk for active women

Women who lift weights may have a lower risk of major heart disease, especially when combined with aerobic exercise, according to a new study published today in JACC, the flagship journal of the American College of Cardiology.

17 Jun 2026

Study shows branding on cannabis products appeals to youth

Unlike cigarettes or alcohol, cannabis products often come packaged as colorful gummies, chocolates, candies and snacks that can look remarkably similar to items found in a grocery store aisle.

16 Jun 2026

UConn study finds positive aging TikTok videos boost women's self-confidence

Women who view TikTok videos of others comfortable with their gray hair and laugh lines start to feel more positive about their own aging the more they watch, a new UConn study has found, potentially influencing a woman's ability to age well later in life.

16 Jun 2026

Social comparisons may undermine happiness and life satisfaction

New research is shedding light on how comparing ourselves to others affects happiness and life satisfaction.

15 Jun 2026

Social media overuse is linked to more self-reported memory problems in young adults

Problematic social media use was associated with more frequent self-reported everyday memory failures in 943 Spanish young adults aged 18 to 35. Everyday memory failures statistically accounted for much of the link between problematic social media use and both prospective and retrospective memory lapses.

15 Jun 2026

Researchers urge one health approach to control raccoon-borne water contamination

The emerging infectious bacterium Escherichia albertii has caused outbreaks of severe food poisoning and hospitalized people through contaminated water and foods, such as salad ingredients. Now, a new study from Osaka Metropolitan University (OMU) has gathered evidence from river, animal and genetic samples that suggest a pathway by which invasive raccoons (Procyon lotor) transmit infections to humans.

12 Jun 2026

High social media use increases mental health risks for adolescents

Adolescents who spend at least two hours a day on social media are more likely to experience depressive symptoms and poorer wellbeing, with the strongest effects in early adolescence, according to new research.

11 Jun 2026