In today’s digital world, more and more people—physicians included—are taking to social media to talk about health. One online group is utilizing the #LungHealth hashtag on platform X (formerly Twitter), where members share information about respiratory ailments, diseases like asthma or lung cancer, air quality, and how to stay healthy.
This study analyzed the usage of this hashtag during a two-year period, analyzing nearly 14,000 posts from 6,100 users in 105 countries, with over 80 million views of the posted tweets. The United States, India, and the UK were the most active nations with most participants, but there was also a great deal of activity from nations including Australia, Nigeria, and Kenya.
Most posts were designed to raise awareness, present facts, and urge action—such as early screening for lung disease or promotion of cleaner air. The biggest bursts of activity were reserved for special health awareness months such as Lung Cancer Awareness Month and World Lung Day.
There was a diverse array of voices: health organizations, media outlets, educational institutions, and individual activists. Interestingly, there was more engagement (likes, shares) on the posts from accounts with larger followings, and original posts outperformed simple reposts or replies.
Some of the trending hashtags that were paired with #LungHealth included #COPD, #Asthma, #COVID19, #LungCancer, and #AirPollution, demonstrating how intertwined environmental and disease-related issues are.
The study highlights that social media sites can be useful tools for the diffusion of lung health awareness, despite constraints of fleeting interest and varied global uptake. This online initiative shows potential for future health campaigns, education, and policy discussion, striving to counteract misinformation and promotion of healthier lifestyles worldwide.
Full text: Meisya Rosamystica, Shivanjali Gore, Swapna Sarangi, Maima Matin, Atanas G Atanasov, Zara Arshad, Rahul Kashyap, Faisal A Nawaz, Breathing together: A global hashtag analysis of #LungHealth on platform X (formerly Twitter), Digital Health, 11, https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251335717.