Social Media News and Research

Latest Social Media News and Research

AAD survey reveals Americans ignore sun risks despite skin cancer concerns

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) today released results from its annual Practice Safe Sun Survey, revealing many Americans still engage in risky sun behaviors driven by misinformation, social media, and persistent tanning myths despite their concerns about the long term aging effects of sun exposure. In recognition of Skin Cancer Awareness Month (May) and Melanoma Monday® on May 4, the AAD is encouraging the public to practice safe sun to reduce their risk of skin cancer.

4 May 2026

Multiple myeloma mortality rates decline with advances in targeted therapies

A new research paper was published in Volume 17 of Oncotarget on April 28, 2026, titled "Targeted therapeutics and U.S. population-level mortality trends in multiple myeloma: A SEER-based analysis from 1975 to 2023."

29 Apr 2026

Prehabilitation cuts surgery complications and hospital stays

Providing patients with structured exercise and nutrition support before surgery can reduce complications and shorten hospital stays, according to a new review published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS).

29 Apr 2026

How media choices shape MMR vaccine hesitancy in the US

The study examines how media sources impact MMR vaccine attitudes, revealing a connection between non-mainstream outlets and increased vaccine hesitancy.

29 Apr 2026

Lifestyle and non-lifestyle factors converge to influence gut microbiome in cancer patients

A new review was published in Volume 13 of Oncoscience on March 11, 2026, titled "Associations among physical activity, diet, non-lifestyle characteristics and the gut microbiome of cancer patients: A scoping review and network analysis."

28 Apr 2026

TikTok chatter could help predict where the opioid crisis is heading next

A large-scale analysis of 569,581 TikTok comments found that opioid-related discussions may help track and forecast synthetic opioid overdose mortality in the US. Recovery, harm reduction, drug use, drug sourcing, and loss-related conversations provided near-real-time signals that improved 6-month forecasting accuracy.

28 Apr 2026

Digital media preferences influence public beliefs about vaccines

People who follow "new right" media outlets are more than twice as likely to be vaccine-hesitant compared to those who never engage with those outlets, a new Johns Hopkins University study finds.

28 Apr 2026

Global survey shows digital health literacy higher in developing nations

A cross-national survey of 31,000 adults in 30 countries finds that digital health literacy is highest in low- and middle-income countries and lowest in high-income countries, challenging assumptions that national wealth translates into stronger digital skills.

28 Apr 2026

Scientists will probe whether processing itself makes ultra-processed foods harmful

A randomized controlled trial protocol will test whether the cardiometabolic risks linked to ultra-processed foods stem from industrial processing, poor nutrient composition, or both. Using four controlled diets, researchers will separate the effects of UPF content from saturated fat, added sugar, and sodium on LDL cholesterol, insulin resistance, and blood pressure.

26 Apr 2026

New insight into how molecular measures of aging relate to neuroimaging markers of brain health

A new research paper was published in Volume 18 of Aging-US on April 7, 2026, titled "Association of epigenetic age acceleration with MRI biomarkers of aging and Alzheimer's disease neurodegeneration."

25 Apr 2026

Social media ‘sweet spot’ for Aussie teens

YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat – they’re just a few of the banned social media sites for Australian teenagers under 16.

25 Apr 2026

Antisense oligonucleotides reverse rare neurodevelopmental disorder in preclinical models

Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have found they can reverse the effects of HNRNPH2-related neurodevelopmental disorder using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) in preclinical models. ASOs are short synthetic nucleic acid strands that target specific messenger RNA.

22 Apr 2026

Global experts highlight new strategies to target human aging

A new meeting report was published in Volume 18 of Aging-US on April 6, 2026, titled "Toward actionable interventions in human aging (12th ARDD meeting, 2025)."

22 Apr 2026

Fitness in midlife extends health span and overall life expectancy

How fit you are in midlife may help determine not just how long you live, but how many of those years are spent in good health, according to a new study published today in the JACC, the flagship journal of the American College of Cardiology.

22 Apr 2026

AI chatbots give misleading health advice nearly half the time

Widespread inaccuracies in AI chatbot health responses pose public health risks, highlighting the urgent need for better oversight and cleaner training data.

21 Apr 2026

New UWB technique helps pill-sized cameras overcome human body interference

Diagnostic tests for stomach conditions are tough for patients, as many of the most accurate ones involve minor surgical procedures or invasive techniques.

21 Apr 2026

Study finds many UK adults want to avoid ultra-processed foods but cannot define them clearly

A qualitative study of 30 UK adults found that many people see ultra-processed foods as unhealthy but struggle to define them clearly or distinguish them from other processed foods. The findings suggest that clearer communication and food-environment changes, not education alone, may be needed to help people reduce UPF intake.

19 Apr 2026

Yeast model reveals mechanisms behind premature aging from progerin

A new research paper was published in Volume 18 of Aging-US on April 3, 2026, titled "Modeling premature aging in yeast via the expression of Progerin."

17 Apr 2026

Your new therapist: Chatty, leaky, and hardly human

Vince Lahey of Carefree, Arizona, embraces chatbots. From Big Tech products to "shady" ones, they offer "someone that I could share more secrets with than my therapist."

17 Apr 2026

Psychedelic use is associated with major life changes across 10 domains

Researchers created a new questionnaire to measure major life changes linked to psychedelic use and found that most surveyed adults reporting naturalistic psychedelic use said psychedelics had influenced at least one major change in their lives. These changes most often involved goals, values, and spirituality, were usually rated positively, and were more commonly reported by people with more frequent use.

16 Apr 2026