The Role of X and Facebook in Managing Risk Communication During Infectious Disease Outbreak

Infectious disease outbreaks represent a significant threat to public health, as healthcare personnel and systems must explore methods for rapidly informing the public and ensuring their compliance. With 368 million users and 3.06 billion users worldwide, respectively [1], X and Facebook, as dominant social media platforms, have transformed risk communication through real-time dissemination, public engagement, and misinformation management. However, gaps persist in institutional adoption and integration of these tools into broader communication strategies employed in the service of promoting public health. This paper explores the dual impact of social media as both a potential aid and hindrance during disease outbreaks. Using COVID-19 as an illustrative example, it offers evidence-based strategies for enhancing platform use in the interest of public health. We propose a three-pronged approach emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration, participatory engagement, and algorithmic reform to improve communication and build public trust, which in turn, translates to improved health outcomes, such as lower mortality rates.