The Role of Influencers in Shaping the Knowledge and Attitudes of Social Media Users Toward the Credibility of Health Information: A Case Study of the Emirati Community

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Media & PR, Liwa University, UAE.  

2 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Media & PR, Liwa University, UAE.

Abstract

The rapid advancement of social media has reshaped how health information is disseminated and consumed globally. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), social media influencers play a pivotal role in shaping public perceptions of health information and influencing behaviors. This study investigates the relationship between reliance on influencers as a primary source of health information and the level of trust in such information. Additionally, it examines the impact of influencer-provided health content on public health behaviors and explores how demographic factors, such as age and educational level, affect these interactions. Using a quantitative methodology, data were collected from 237 participants via a structured survey. The results highlight significant positive relationships between reliance on influencers, trust levels, and improved health behaviors, while also underscoring the moderating role of demographic factors. These findings emphasize the importance of credible health communication on social media and provide practical recommendations for leveraging influencers to promote public health. Future research should focus on cross-cultural comparisons and evaluating the effectiveness of different types of health content delivered by influencers.

Keywords

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics