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Marketing to Youth in the Digital Age: The Promotion of Unhealthy Products and Health Promoting Behaviours on Social Media

Author

Listed:
  • Sally Dunlop

    (Division of Cancer Screening and Prevention, Cancer Institute New South Wales, Australia, and School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Australia)

  • Becky Freeman

    (School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Australia, and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Australia)

  • Sandra C. Jones

    (Centre for Health and Social Research, Australian Catholic University, Australia)

Abstract

The near-ubiquitous use of social media among adolescents and young adults creates opportunities for both corporate brands and health promotion agencies to target and engage with young audiences in unprecedented ways. Traditional media is known to have both a positive and negative influence on youth health behaviours, but the impact of social media is less well understood. This paper first summarises current evidence around adolescents’ exposure to the promotion and marketing of unhealthy products such as energy dense and nutrient poor food and beverages, alcohol, and tobacco on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. We explore emerging evidence about the extent of exposure to marketing of these harmful products through social media platforms and potential impacts of exposure on adolescent health. Secondly, we present examples of health-promoting social media campaigns aimed at youth, with the purpose of describing innovative campaigns and highlighting lessons learned for creating effective social media interventions. Finally, we suggest implications for policy and practice, and identify knowledge gaps and opportunities for future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Sally Dunlop & Becky Freeman & Sandra C. Jones, 2016. "Marketing to Youth in the Digital Age: The Promotion of Unhealthy Products and Health Promoting Behaviours on Social Media," Media and Communication, Cogitatio Press, vol. 4(3), pages 35-49.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:meanco:v4:y:2016:i:3:p:35-49
    DOI: 10.17645/mac.v4i3.522
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Freeman, B. & Kelly, B. & Baur, L. & Chapman, K. & Chapman, S. & Gill, T. & King, L., 2014. "Digital junk: Food and beverage marketing on facebook," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(12), pages 56-64.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chatzaga, Anastasia & Metaxas, Theodore, 2023. "Social Media and European Youth: A Combined Qualitative Analysis of Finland and Spain," MPRA Paper 122468, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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