To analyze social media messages from 2024 to understand the effects of acne on users’ quality of life, identify key discussion topics, and uncover unmet needs.
Approach:
Study Design and Data Sources: An observational, retrospective study analyzed English-language social media posts from the U.S. and U.K. between January 1 and December 31, 2024, using data brokers Brandwatch and Visibrain.
Data Analysis: Demographics were inferred, and topics of discussion were identified using biterm topic modeling (BTM) and advanced AI techniques to categorize posts based on common themes.
Key Findings:
Acne affects mental health, self-esteem, and body image, with significant stigmatization in various social settings.
Social media serves as a platform for individuals to share experiences and seek advice regarding acne.
The study utilized advanced AI techniques to analyze social media content, revealing insights into users' experiences.
Interpretation:
The findings reveal insights into the relationship between acne and social media interactions, highlighting the need for further exploration of users' experiences and needs.
Limitations:
The keyword-based approach may have excluded relevant posts that did not explicitly mention 'acne', potentially limiting the comprehensiveness of the analysis.
The analysis was limited to English-language posts, potentially missing non-English discussions.
Conclusion:
The study provides a framework for understanding how acne impacts individuals' lives through social media interactions.
