**5. Social media's impact on health education and literacy**

While social media has many benefits when it comes to health promotion, there are also several challenges and limitations. Notably, social media can be a source of misinformation, as anyone can share information on social media, regardless of its accuracy. This can lead to confusion and mistrust among patients and those seeking health advice online [50, 51].

Through the seeking and sharing of information, social media can have a significant impact on health education and literacy [52]. Social media has resulted in greater access to health information, allowing individuals to educate themselves on health topics, as well as greater engagement in health education [5]. As individuals participate in online discussions and connect with others who are interested in similar health topics, the quality of information shared can greatly influence health knowledge.

Using social media as a tool for health promotion acts to improve the quality of health information online, as well as the likelihood of encountering evidence-based guidance and advice. The voices of health professionals and the presence of healthcare organisations on social media are required to dilute misinformation in the digital health space, where evidence-based information can be difficult to source [53].

Healthcare organisations should take advantage of the greater transparency that social media allows in health education, whereby the sharing of information about their services and outcomes allows patients to make informed decisions about their healthcare [7]. This plays an important role in autonomy and trust in healthcare services and providers.

*Evolving Role of Social Media in Health Promotion DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.111967*

As well as transparency, social media has also allowed for greater accountability in health education. Individuals can hold healthcare providers and organisations accountable for the accuracy and quality of their health information. Similarly, organisations can bring awareness to misinformation and offer guidance to individuals as to how it can be identified and avoided.
