🔑 Key Findings
- High social media use: 72.5% of teenagers reported daily use, averaging 2.6 hours on weekdays and 3.1 hours on weekends.
- Popular platforms: WhatsApp, Instagram, and TikTok were the most accessed.
- Food-related behaviors:
- 34.5% watched food-related videos.
- 32.8% snacked while browsing.
- 54.3% were exposed to food advertisements, mostly fast food.
- Health impact:
- Access to WhatsApp and Instagram was linked to higher odds of being underweight.
- Exposure to food ads was associated with both underweight and overweight risks.
- Qualitative insights: Teens described aspirational consumption patterns influenced by online trends, habitual snacking during browsing, and strong exposure to fast-food promotions.
📌 Public Health Implications
The study concludes that social media is a double-edged sword:
- It promotes unhealthy eating through energy-dense, nutrient-poor food advertising.
- Yet, it remains an untapped opportunity for nutrition education.
For discussion:
- How can policymakers regulate online food advertising to protect adolescents?
- What strategies could schools and parents use to leverage social media for healthier eating behaviors?
- Could digital literacy programs help teenagers critically evaluate food content online?
👉 Read the full article here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40795-026-01276-6