Uncovering a pseudoscience: an analysis of ‘biological dentistry’ Instagram posts
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2340/aos.v83.40486Keywords:
eHealth, misinformation, oral health, pseudoscience, social mediaAbstract
Objective: This infodemiology study aimed to analyze characteristics of English-language Instagram posts on ‘Biological Dentistry’.
Materials and Methods: Using CrowdTangle, we analyzed 500 ‘Biological Dentistry’ posts published on Instagram from May 2017 to May 2022. Two researchers assessed each post for facticity, motivation, author’s profile, sentiment, and interaction metrics. Statistical analysis was employed to compare interaction metrics between dichotomized categories of posts’ characteristics and determine predictors of misinformation and user engagement.
Results: Over half of the posts (58.4%) were from health-related authors, and a considerable number contained misinformation (68.2%) or were financially motivated (52%). Sentiment was mostly negative or neutral (59.8%). Misinformation was associated with financial motivation (OR = 2.12) and health-related authors (OR = 5.56), while non-health-related authors’ posts associated with higher engagement (OR = 1.98). Reliable content, non-health-related authorship, and positive sentiment were associated with increased user interaction.
Conclusion: Misinformation about ‘Biological Dentistry’ on Instagram is mainly spread by financially incentivized health-related authors. Yet, non-health-related authors’ posts resonate more with audiences, highlighting a nuanced relationship between content facticity, authorship, and engagement.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Ana Maria Jucá, Olivia Santana Jorge, Yasmin Rosalin Moreira, Matheus Lotto, Tamires Sá Menezes, Thiago Cruvinel
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Acta Odontologica Scandinavica publishes original research papers as well as critical reviews relevant to the diagnosis, epidemiology, health service, prevention, aetiology, pathogenesis, pathology, physiology, microbiology, development and treatment of diseases affecting tissues of the oral cavity and associated structures including papers on cause and effect or explanatory/associative relationships for experimental or observational studies.
