| Description |
In many ways, the COVID-19 pandemic is a unique time in history. Since cases were first reported in China in December 2019 and the early months of 2020, over 217 million cases have been reported globally with over 4.5 million deaths, totals that continue to rise as the pandemic progresses. The United States has contributed to a large portion of these totals, with over 39 million cases and 639,000 deaths. In addition to the widespread effects that permeate every aspect of modern life, COVID-19 is the first large-scale global pandemic that has occurred since the advent of modern technology, including communication technology, health IT on both the hospital and consumer sides, and technology for the analysis of large datasets. The optimal use of this technology is important in a public health setting under normal conditions and vital in a pandemic response. This study will focus on a subset of this modern technology and seek to understand the uses and effectiveness of social media technology in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will first establish context using perspectives from the fields of epidemiology and public health and disseminate findings from previous researchers, with specific attention given to studies of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will then draw on psychological research to understand how social media users process information and engage with the platform. By focusing on the pandemic in Utah, it will then survey the ways in which government and public health officials have used Twitter to communicate with the public and promote positive health outcomes. Finally, this study will synthesize these findings and make recommendations for better utilizing social media technology for the purposes of public health promotion in the unique conditions a global pandemic presents. |
