Media Influences on Health

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The media—everything from television, radio, and film to games, advertising, and social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter—can have significant impacts on individual and population health. Exposure to media, especially among youth, may affect health behaviors such as substance use, sexual activity, and eating habits.

  • A person looks at a COVID-19 news update on their cell phone, photo by svetikd/Getty Images

    Report

    Tracking News Manipulation by Malicious State Actors

    During the pandemic, both Russia and China used authoritarian power over the media to manipulate the news. What can be done to better detect such propaganda campaigns—and guard against them in the future?

    Nov 15, 2021

  • A health care worker from the El Paso Fire Department administers a COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center in El Paso, Texas, May 7, 2021, photo by Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters

    Commentary

    How Truth Decay Is Fueling Vaccine Hesitancy

    A recent poll found that more than a quarter of Americans will not try to get vaccinated. The spread of misinformation and disinformation, which is rampant over social media, is one of the factors fueling vaccine hesitancy. And in turn, it's threatening our ability to end the pandemic for good.

    May 14, 2021

Explore Media Influences on Health

  • Journal Article

    Journal Article

    Playing God? Media Coverage of CRISPR in the United States

    Review of online and television news sources in the United States determined that coverage of CRISPR remained ambiguous and infrequent, indicating media have not established the salience of CRISPR to a degree that engages the public or policymakers.

    Nov 8, 2023

  • Two hands shake, one wearing a military uniform, the other in a white cuff, superimposed over a military discharge form, photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ter Haar/U.S. National Guard

    Commentary

    The Precarious Transition of Unvaccinated Service Members

    U.S. service members separated from the military for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine were largely separated with a general discharge under honorable conditions. While they may be eligible for health care and disability compensation from the VA, they are not eligible for G.I. Bill benefits. How have they fared as they entered civilian society unvaccinated and with limited benefits?

    Dec 19, 2022

  • A member of the Armed Forces receives a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine obtained under the COVAX program in Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 15, 2021, photo by Agustin Marcarian/Reuters

    Commentary

    Split-Screen Pandemic Recovery Isn't Sustainable

    In a world connected by commerce and the air we breathe, it's hard to see how any COVID-19 recovery that's confined to specific segments of the population is sustainable. Failing to address gaps in the pandemic response would run the risk that a future mutation of this virus could send us scurrying for cover. Again.

    Jul 20, 2021

  • News Release

    News Release

    Public Trust of the Centers for Disease Control Falls During Coronavirus Pandemic

    Public trust in the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has fallen during the coronavirus pandemic, with the decline bringing overall population-level trust in the agency to the same lower level of trust long held by Black Americans about the agency.

    Apr 5, 2021

  • The exterior of the Tom Harkin Global Communications Center, otherwise known as Building 19, located on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Roybal Campus in Atlanta, Georgia.

    Report

    Trust in the CDC Declined During the COVID-19 Pandemic

    From May to October 2020, some Americans lost trust in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The drop in trust was particularly significant among people who intended to vote for a candidate other than Joe Biden in the 2020 election or did not intend to vote at all. This suggests that views of the CDC are now strongly politicized.

    Apr 5, 2021

  • Overcoming Hurdles to Herd Immunity (Teaser)

    Multimedia

    Overcoming Hurdles to Herd Immunity

    RAND senior physician policy researcher Mahshid Abir describes several hurdles to achieving herd immunity to COVID-19, including the politicization of the vaccine and the spread of misinformation.

    Jan 8, 2021

  • usa, dog tag, memorial, veterans, day, tags, july 4th, american, wood, wooden, military, army, dog, flag, red, blue, tag, honor, states, patriotic, america, chain, background, veteran, freedom, patriot, holiday, courage, patriotism

    Report

    Cross-Agency Evaluation of DoD, VA, and HHS Mental Health Public Awareness Campaigns: Analysis of Campaign Scope, Content, and Reach

    This report evaluates efforts by four public awareness campaigns to overcome negative perceptions and promote awareness of mental health disorders and their treatment, with a focus on military and veteran populations.

    Jan 29, 2020

  • World War II veteran Manuel Diaz and Joint Region Marianas Command Master Chief Paul Kingsbury at a ceremony commemorating the 69th anniversary of the Battle of Midway

    Research Brief

    Evaluating Public Awareness Campaigns to Promote Military and Veteran Mental Health

    This brief describes the results of an interim evaluation that examined the scope, content, and dissemination of mental health public awareness campaigns. RAND researchers conducted a comprehensive evaluation of four such efforts.

    Jan 29, 2020

  • Research Brief

    Research Brief

    Make the Connection: Findings and Recommendations

    This brief is one in a series examining mental health public awareness campaigns' messages, consistency of messaging in their materials, and tools used to deliver content to audiences. This brief discusses materials from the Make the Connection.

    Jan 29, 2020

  • Research Brief

    Research Brief

    Real Warriors Campaign: Findings and Recommendations

    This brief is one in a series examining mental health public awareness campaigns' messages, consistency of messaging in their materials, and tools used to deliver content to audiences. This brief discusses materials from the Real Warrior Campaign.

    Jan 29, 2020

  • Research Brief

    Research Brief

    Recovery Month: Findings and Recommendations

    This brief is one in a series examining mental health public awareness campaigns' messages, consistency of messaging in their materials, and tools used to deliver content to audiences. This brief discusses materials from Recovery Month.

    Jan 29, 2020

  • National Veterans Awareness Ride members hold U.S. flags to show support during the National Vietnam War Veterans Day observance

    Research Brief

    Veterans Crisis Line: Findings and Recommendations

    This brief is one in a series examining mental health public awareness campaigns' messages, consistency of messaging in their materials, and tools used to deliver content to audiences. This brief discusses materials from the Veterans Crisis Line.

    Jan 29, 2020

  • Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, presents an award during the Endeavour Fund Awards in London, UK, February 7, 2019, photo by Tolga Akmen/Reuters

    Commentary

    Meghan Markle May Avoid the Spotlight After Giving Birth and Send a Powerful Public Health Message

    Meghan Markle plans to break from royal tradition by declining to present her baby to the public on the the steps of the maternity ward, hours after giving birth, with flawless hair and makeup. This could bring attention to many of the postpartum challenges faced by women everywhere.

    Apr 11, 2019

  • Elizabeth D'Amico outside a marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles, California

    Q&A

    How Marijuana Ads Affect Youth: Q&A with Elizabeth D'Amico

    RAND's Elizabeth D'Amico discusses her research on how medical marijuana advertising influences adolescents' use of—and positive attitudes toward—the drug. Los Angeles County used her findings to limit the placement of marijuana billboards and signage outside dispensaries.

    Aug 21, 2018

  • Journal Article

    Journal Article

    SOVA: Design of a Stakeholder Informed Social Media Website for Depressed Adolescents and Their Parents

    An online behavioral intervention for depressed adolescents and parents includes two moderated social media websites (one for adolescents, one for parents); both use similar content and both leverage the benefits of social media tools.

    Jun 28, 2018

  • Journal Article

    Journal Article

    Persistence of Shifts in Beliefs Associated With Exposure to Alcohol Advertising Among Adolescents

    Youths are exposed to an average of three alcohol ads per day-and black and Hispanic youths' exposure is roughly double that of white youths—and the effect of a single exposure can last up to two days.

    Jun 21, 2018

  • People look at a billboard

    Research Brief

    Drinking It In: The Impact of Alcohol Advertising on Kids

    On average, adolescents see three alcohol ads per day. Exposure to these ads led youth to view alcohol and drinking more positively.

    May 23, 2018

  • Cigarettes are displayed behind the counter of a convenience store in New York, March 18, 2013

    Journal Article

    Showing Adolescents Graphic Anti-Smoking Posters May Encourage Some to Try Smoking

    Exposing teens to graphic anti-smoking posters may actually increase the risk that some start smoking. Some teens who viewed a poster depicting gruesome displays of smoking-caused diseases actually reported being more susceptible to cigarette smoking after viewing the displays during a shopping trip.

    Feb 13, 2018

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