Abstract
Public health campaigns are systematic programs that require the health officials to understand the modern means of communication and the manner in which they influence the targeted audiences. Contemporary social media platforms can form important tools of disseminating the public health information meant for the youth population. In the intended STDs youth campaign, the communication plan of the program will involve the use of Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and Google+ to disseminate its public health information. However, youth may not take public health information on these famous platforms seriously. Thus, combining these platforms with other healthcare blogs and specific hospital websites may deem appropriate.
Introduction
People have shifted from the traditional means of communication to the modern means of communication, where sophisticated technologies play an important role. Quist (2011) asserts that a large number of the youth population seems to abandon the traditional forms of media, and adopt the modern communication tools such as the social media networks. Contemporary social media platforms can be very effective in disseminating the public health information about the youth STDs campaign. Among others, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and Google+ can be imperative in communicating the youth STDs campaigns (Kass-Hout & Alhinnawi, 2013). This section of the communication strategy meant for the STDs campaign focuses on evaluating the most appropriate social media platforms.
The Types of Communication and Social Media Tools
Generally, the numbers of youths engaging in social media are increasing relentlessly (Merchant, 2014). The intended campaign against STDs among the youth population will use Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Google+, Blogs, and other specific hospital websites. Justification-To amplify the STDs youth campaign, the campaigners will utilize Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter, due to their influencing capabilities among the youth population and their attractiveness to the youths (Kass-Hout & Alhinnawi, 2013). In addition, the intended youth STDs campaign will utilize the specific blogs and specific hospital websites. Justification– These specific health-related blogs will enhance the seriousness of the campaign, while the specific hospital websites will formalize the campaign messages.
Two Reasons for the Selection of these Tools
The campaign messages will rely on the effectiveness of the social media platforms. First Reason: Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace are the leading social networking websites with powerful influences on the youths (Robledo, 2012). Their tantalizing media features, their communication capabilities, their user friendliness, and their global reputations make them appropriate for a youth STDs campaign. According to Kuhns (2012), these platforms provide opportunities for effective advertising and other public relations activities on the web. Second Reason: The healthcare blogs and the specific hospital websites will provide the campaigners with the opportunities to make the STDs youth campaign more legitimate, official, and organized. Additionally, they will enhance the seriousness of the initiative.
Two Ways of Adjusting the Public Health Message
The first way of adjusting the public health message-the communication plan meant for the social media platforms will adjust the message using authentic conversations and direct online and offline conversations in Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace (Basevi & Godbold, 2014). This approach will allow the participants to understand the messages deeply, build deeper reflections, and synthesize the communication in a meaningful manner (Goodman, Wennerstrom, & Springgate, 2011). The second way of adjusting the public health message– when using the blogs and the specific hospital websites, the campaigners will adjust the public health campaign using humorous messages, appealing conversations, and video testimonies that will create a center of attention for the web users.
Three Reasons why it is Vital to Adjust the Message
Message adjustment with regard to the age factor- the youth campaign will involve youth aged between15 and 35 years. Youths of the age below 25 years may require a more appealing message on the advert than those aged above 30 years (Basevi & Godbold, 2014). Message adjustment with respect to the community factor- youths live in different communities of different races, cultures, and religions. The campaigners should adjust the messages to suit different cultures, religions, and ethnicities (Signorini, Segre, & Polgreen, 2011). Message adjustment with regard to the literacy levels– the campaigners may adjust the public health campaign using an easy language that will suit the juniors aged below 18 years.
Two Ways to Market the Public Health Campaign
Concerning the indented social media communication, the initiative will adopt two effective methods of marketing the STDs youth campaign. Firstly, the public health campaign about STDs among the youth population will focus on using video simulations with strong STDs messages to help the youth become familiar with the initiative. Through the STDs video simulations, the youth will comprehend the public health message profoundly. Secondly, the public health campaign concerning the STDs problem among the youth population, will use humorous writings, visual images, and songs about the repercussions of the STDs to sensitize the youths. Such approaches will intensify the public health message.
Conclusion
Social media platforms are increasingly becoming important tools of disseminating public health information to the targeted audiences. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and Google+ are among the famous social media platforms that the public health officials can use to disseminate the public health message to the youth population, which seems much familiar with the social media websites. To ensure that the STDs public health message brings about the notion of seriousness, using the healthcare blogs and specific hospital websites can be imperative to supplement the efforts of the famous social media platforms. An amalgamation of the two techniques can help to disseminate the STDs campaign effectively.
References
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Kass-Hout, T., & Alhinnawi, H. (2013). Social media in public health. British Medical Bulletin, 2013(1), 1-20.
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Merchant, R. (2014). Use of Social Media across US Hospitals: Descriptive Analysis of Adoption and Utilization. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 16(11), 264-269.
Quist, N. (2011). Social media and interpersonal relationships: For better or worse? Journal of Clinical Ethics, 22(2), 191-193.
Robledo, D. (2012). Integrative use of Social Media in Health Communication. Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, 2(4), 77-95.
Signorini, A., Segre, A., & Polgreen, P. (2011). The Use of Twitter to Track Levels of Disease Activity and Public Concern in the U.S. during the Influenza A H1N1 Pandemic. PLOS one, 6(5), 50-61.