HEALTH

Healthy Living: What Malaysians Think on Social Media

MalaysiaThu Jun 26 2025
Malaysia is seeing more people with long-term health issues. These problems can be avoided or controlled by making better choices. This includes not smoking, drinking less alcohol, eating well, and staying active. Social media is now a big part of sharing health tips. Doctors and health workers are using it to spread the word. But before they can give advice, they need to know what people already think. Are Malaysians open to these healthy habits? Right now, there isn't much research on this. Most studies don't look at what people post online or how they feel about these topics. This is a problem. Social media is a great tool for health messages. But if doctors don't understand what people think, their advice might not reach the right audience. It's like talking to a wall. People might ignore the messages if they don't feel heard. Also, social media is full of different opinions. Some posts might support healthy habits. Others might not. Without studying these posts, doctors might miss important clues. They need to know what people are saying to give better advice. In short, more research is needed. Doctors should look at what Malaysians post online. This can help them share health tips in a way that people will listen. It's all about understanding before advising.

questions

    If social media posts about healthy behaviors were a reality show, which lifestyle behavior would win the 'Most Dramatic' award?
    How do the sentiments expressed in social media posts about lifestyle behaviors correlate with the actual health outcomes in Malaysia?
    What ethical considerations should HCPs take into account when using social media to influence public health behaviors?

actions