Shaping Social Media: Is Twitter an Equitable Tool for Professional Development?

Journal of Medical Systems (11/16/23) Sivayoganathan, Thibacg; Kirpalani, Amrit

While Twitter is a valuable tool for academic professional development, researchers sought to evaluate the characteristics of Twitter influencers in the Canadian healthcare setting, noting that research has shown there are racial and gender biases among the general users. The team first identified Twitter influencers in the healthcare, healthcare research and health policy fields, and then created normalized influencer scores factoring in user connections and engagement. Using facial recognition software, the researchers found that 84% of the influencers identified were white and 60% were male. Male influencers' scores in health policy were 65.1 compared with 61.2 for women; there were no sex- or race-related differences among influencers in the healthcare or healthcare research domains. "Given the importance of Twitter as a tool for professional development, it is crucial that institutional leaders and policymakers are aware of potential inequities in user reach," the researchers note. "Future studies should evaluate additional factors shaping user influence in healthcare on Twitter, with a focus on equity, diversity and trustworthiness."

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