THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON EATING BEHAVIOUR AND NUTRITIONAL AWARENESS: EXAMINING FOOD CHOICES, DIGITAL INFLUENCE, AND HEALTH LITERACY

Abstract

Social media has become an important source of information about food, nutrition, and healthy lifestyles.
Platforms that share food videos, diet advice, recipes, and nutritional recommendations can influence
individuals’ food preferences, eating habits, and understanding of healthy nutrition. Although social media
provides opportunities to increase nutritional awareness, it can also expose users to misleading health claims,
unhealthy food promotions, and unverified dietary advice. These influences may affect how individuals evaluate
nutritional information and make everyday food choices. This research article aims to examine the impact of
social media on eating behaviour and nutritional awareness, with particular attention to digital nutrition
information, food-related content, social media influencers, and health literacy. It explores how exposure to
online food trends and nutritional recommendations may shape dietary decisions and influence attitudes
towards healthy eating. Recent research has examined the relationship between social media content, food
consumption, body image, and eating behaviour, while other studies have investigated the role of health literacy
in evaluating online nutrition information. The article also highlights the importance of distinguishing reliable,
evidence-based nutritional information from misleading or unsupported claims shared online. Digital health
literacy may help individuals critically evaluate food-related content and make more informed dietary decisions.
Overall, this research emphasizes the need to promote responsible social media use, improve nutrition
education, and encourage the sharing of accurate nutritional information. The study may contribute to a better
understanding of the relationship between digital media, human behaviour, and nutritional well-being.