[Social media and trust in medical expertise].
This article raises two questions: How are social media deployed to both undermine and enhance public trust in scientific expertise during a health crisis and how can medical experts and professionals navigate this new media dynamic that has partly replaced the institutional flow of communication between experts and citizens.
Abstract
Mass media, television and newspapers used to be the preferred channels for medical news and information. Over the past two decades, the media landscape has profoundly changed due to the ubiquitous use of social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, etc). The Covid-19 pandemic has shown the impact of this new media dynamic, not only on the trustworthiness of medical information but also on citizens' trust in medical expertise. This article raises two questions: How are social media deployed to both undermine and enhance public trust in scientific expertise during a health crisis? And how can medical experts and professionals navigate this new media dynamic that has partly replaced the institutional flow of communication between experts and citizens?