Social media has emerged as a boon for information dissemination in several domains, and science communication is definitely one of them.
But, every coin has two sides!
Here's a concise perspective of how social media affects science communication...
Disintermediation
The public have direct and total access to information, usually free of cost; without the involvement of any go-between individuals or organizations (eg) the press
Researchers and science communicators can reach and communicate with the public directly, and hence do not risk the loss or misinterpretation of information, that may happen if intermediaries are involved
Info-demic
The huge quantity of information available may overwhelm, confuse, and even mislead the general public
Distinction between reliable and unreliable sources is blurred
Polarization
Social media platforms often promote the creation of communities and groups of like-minded individuals
Individuals in such groups and communities adhere strictly to views that agree with their mind-set, including their beliefs, values, and thought processes; they choose to ignore information that is not in concurrence with their views and opinions
This setting often causes evidence-based information to take a back-seat in the face of information (even if it is unreliable) that is consistent with the narrative of a particular group/ community of individuals
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