Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Dr Melody Taba

Guardian Australia @australia.theguardian.com · 2d

Google blocked STI awareness ads as ‘adult content’, Senate estimates hears

Search engine added ‘STI testing’ to list of sensitive topics, censoring important public health campaign, Greens leader says * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Google has blocked ads for a commonwealth-funded STI awareness campaign as “adult content” in a move sexual health organisations say frustrates efforts to share evidence-based public health information online. The Greens leader, Larissa Waters, told a Senate estimates hearing on Thursday that the tech company’s moderation practices had recently undermined the reach and cost-effectiveness of the national campaign, run by Sexual and Reproductive Health Australia (SRHA). Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Dr Melody Taba

Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 12d

Q: Can soft moderation techniques (such as footnotes and blur screens) decrease engagement with misinformation on social media?

A: Yes, yes, they can.
socialmedialab.ca/2024/09/11/n...

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Reposted by Dr Melody Taba

Jolyn Hersch PhD @jolynhersch.bsky.social · 29d

*New publication*

Interventions to support patient decision making about taking part in health research: A systematic review

doi.org/10.1016/j.pe...

Just out in Patient Education & Counseling

@sydneyhealthliteracylab.org.au @katiegillies.bsky.social

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A/Prof Carissa Bonner @carissabonner.bsky.social · Aug 29

Should we deliver longer supplies of #hypertension medication by post, to reduce barriers to taking medication consistently? Our survey of >2000 people taking blood pressure medication suggests preferences are price sensitive: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.5694/... @mja.com.au @sydney.edu.au

Medication delivery and dispensing interval preferences of people who use antihypertensive medications in Australia: a survey study

Click on the article title to read more.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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Reposted by Dr Melody Taba

Prof Samantha Thomas @docsamantha.bsky.social · Aug 21

🎥 Watch my interview with Prof Ilona Kickbusch about the history of the Ottawa Charter and the impact it has had on Health Promotion across the globe youtu.be/8pWr0YIJ-pE

🎧 Or listen to the interview on our new 'Ottawa at 40' Spotify podcast series open.spotify.com/episode/1GKA... #Ottawa40

Ottawa Charter at 40: Professor Ilona Kickbusch

YouTube video by Ottawa Charter 40

youtu.be

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Reposted by Dr Melody Taba

A/Prof Carissa Bonner @carissabonner.bsky.social · Jul 28

So proud of Dr @melodytaba.bsky.social, awarded her PhD with no emendations! Her carefully codesigned framework will improve government health communication with young people, so we are better prepared for future emergencies. More here: www.sydneyhealthliteracylab.org.au/social-media...

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Dr Melody Taba @melodytaba.bsky.social · Jul 28

Huge, huge thanks to my co-authors, youth advisors and my supervisory dream team for their immeasurable support: A/Prof Carissa Bonner, Dr Julie Ayre and Prof Kirsten McCaffery!

@carissabonner.bsky.social
@julieayre.bsky.social
@kirstenmccaffery.bsky.social
@sydneyhealthlitlab.bsky.social

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Dr Melody Taba @melodytaba.bsky.social · Jul 28

#PhDone!

Super excited to announce I’ve been awarded my PhD with no emendations!

Excited for the next chapter at the Sydney Health Literacy Lab where I’ll continue researching young people
and digital health literacy as a postdoc 💫

@sydney.edu.au
@sydneyfmh-emcr.bsky.social
#AcademicSky

Melody standing in front of a University of Sydney building holding thesis

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Reposted by Dr Melody Taba

Lara Wolfers @larawolfers.bsky.social · Jul 28

Super happy that this is finally out. It started with lunch discussions & difficulties in the @sonja-utz.de (then) social media group finding 1 social media definition we agreed on. Our main point: we need to be TRANSPARENT how we understand social media in a specific project/paper.

Sonja Utz @sonja-utz.de · Jul 25

What are social media? Seems obvious, right? #TikTok? Definitely. #LinkedIn? Sure. #Facebook? Yes. #YouTube? Well… maybe less clear?
In our @everydaymedialab.bsky.social project(lead @larawolfers.bsky.social) we suggest a framework for researchers #transparency

academic.oup.com/anncom/advan...

What do you mean by “social media”? Introducing the Reporting Items for Social Media Research (RISoMeR)

Abstract. Scholars from various disciplines study social media. However, neither researchers nor users have a unified understanding of social media. Even m

academic.oup.com

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Reposted by Dr Melody Taba

Becky Freeman @drbfreeman.bsky.social · Jul 27

What happened to teen smoking rates in Australia as vaping emerged? New analysis out today insightplus.mja.com.au/2025/29/aust...

Australia’s progress in reducing adolescent smoking has slowed — vaping may be why - InSight+

In October last year, we published findings from our retrospective cohort analysis of data from the Generation Vape study in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, accompanied by an ...

insightplus.mja.com.au

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Reposted by Dr Melody Taba

Julie Ayre @julieayre.bsky.social · Jul 27

IN PRESS!
Collaborative project with Dr Alana Fisher on #healthliteracy of ppl using unguided #iCBT for #depression/#anxiety.

Despite diverse literacy challenges - esp. in often underserved groups - users engaged & benefited.

👉 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

@sydneyhealthlitlab.bsky.social

www.tandfonline.com

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CAMERON WILSON @cameronwilson.bsky.social · Jul 21

it's so funny that Australian adults are more likely to think its appropriate for kids under 16 to go on X than on LinkedIn.

"Literal gore videos, mega racism and close up explicit material being recommended to you is fine, son, but I draw the line at professional networking"

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Reposted by Dr Melody Taba

Health Promotion International @healthpromint.bsky.social · Jul 21

NEW 🔔 The effectiveness of podcasts in promoting health among young people: a scoping review

✍️ Yixuan Zou, Albie Sharpe, Daniel Demant

OPEN ACCESS doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daaf102

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Reposted by Dr Melody Taba

Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀 @mackayim.bsky.social · Jul 18

"Strengthen scientific literacy and people’s understanding of evidence about respiratory pathogens and pandemics through community dialogue, integration into educational curricula and utilizing networks, media, updated online content (including myth-busting pages), social media and other" tech.

A checklist for respiratory pathogen pandemic preparedness planning

This checklist is an operational tool to help national authorities develop or revise national respiratory pathogen (inclusive of influenza and coronaviruses) pandemic preparedness plans. It presents ...

www.who.int

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Reposted by Dr Melody Taba

CAMERON WILSON @cameronwilson.bsky.social · Jul 17

Google will no longer fund fact-checking in Australia by letting its existing deal with an Australian publisher's team lapse, mirroring Meta's retreat amid a global backlash against fact-checkers.

www.crikey.com.au/20...

Google ends fact-checking funding in Australia after letting AAP FactCheck deal expire

While the US search giant is signing new deals with Australian publishers, it will not renew its fact-checking contract with Australian Associated Press amid a global backlash on fact-checking.

www.crikey.com.au

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Reposted by Dr Melody Taba

Melissa Sweet @melissasweetdr.bsky.social · Jul 17

Better ways to communicate health messages to young people – five recommendations, by Dr Melody Taba

www.croakey.org/better-ways-...

Better ways to communicate health messages to young people

Introduction by Croakey: Social media is the main source of news for young people, according to the 2025 Australian Digital News Report,

www.croakey.org

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Reposted by Dr Melody Taba

Public Health Association of Australia @publichealthaus.bsky.social · Jul 17

Thank you @croakeynews.bsky.social & Dr @melissasweetdr.bsky.social for showcasing Dr @melodytaba.bsky.social's expertise ⤵️ #PublicHealth

Melissa Sweet @melissasweetdr.bsky.social · Jul 17

Better ways to communicate health messages to young people – five recommendations, by Dr Melody Taba

www.croakey.org/better-ways-...

Better ways to communicate health messages to young people

Introduction by Croakey: Social media is the main source of news for young people, according to the 2025 Australian Digital News Report,

www.croakey.org

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Reposted by Dr Melody Taba

Croakey Health Media @croakeynews.bsky.social · Jul 16

Better ways to communicate health messages to young people www.croakey.org/better-ways-... #publichealth

Better ways to communicate health messages to young people

www.croakey.org

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Reposted by Dr Melody Taba

Sydney Health Literacy Lab @sydneyhealthliteracylab.org.au · Jul 15

🗣️ Now recruiting!

Are you an adult and speak a language other than English at home?

We want know how you find information about your health, both online and from other places.

Study involves a 45 min interview (online or in person).

More info here: sydney.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

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Reposted by Dr Melody Taba

A/Prof Carissa Bonner @carissabonner.bsky.social · Jul 14

Our new review of #CVD knowledge scales is just published - there's a lot of options! globalheartjournal.com/articles/10....

Quality of Available Cardiovascular Disease Knowledge Tools: A Systematic Review | Global Heart

globalheartjournal.com

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Reposted by Dr Melody Taba

Leo Röhlke @leoroe.bsky.social · Jul 7

Happy to share my new study, publ. in Social Science Research 🎉 Bottom line: Yes, adolescents use their phones a lot 🤳 But I find no support for the notion that this use displaces reading, homework, hobbies, physical act., sleep... Instead: Changing media preferences 📺 ->📱. doi.org/10.1016/j.ss...

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Dr Melody Taba @melodytaba.bsky.social · Jul 3

Thanks Bob, would love to hear how it’s received in different countries! Our work was done with Australian young people but online youth cultures span borders!

Reposted by Dr Melody Taba

Sara @sbhbc.bsky.social · Jul 3

@doh.wa.gov thought your comms team might appreciate this!

Dr Melody Taba @melodytaba.bsky.social · Jul 2

📱Interested in reaching young people with health communication via social media? 🤔

💡We co-designed 5 recommendations with young people and health communicators!

Read thread or visit site for more: www.sydneyhealthliteracylab.org.au/social-media...

Article 🔗 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Graphic that reads "Trying to reach young people with social media health communication? We co-designed these 5 recommendations with young people and professional health communicators". Includes illustration of young people holding phone.

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Reposted by Dr Melody Taba

Robbie Schneider @robbieschneider.bsky.social · Jul 2

Fantastic tips for health communicators!

Dr Melody Taba @melodytaba.bsky.social · Jul 2

📱Interested in reaching young people with health communication via social media? 🤔

💡We co-designed 5 recommendations with young people and health communicators!

Read thread or visit site for more: www.sydneyhealthliteracylab.org.au/social-media...

Article 🔗 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

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Reposted by Dr Melody Taba

Dennis Ren MD @dennisrenmd.bsky.social · Jul 2

#SciComm needs to be a conversation, not unidirectional.

Dr Melody Taba @melodytaba.bsky.social · Jul 2

5️⃣: Engage more with the public

Young people want to see public health agencies engage with the public on social media.

They want two-way conversations rather than impersonal one-way messaging from a faceless entity. 📲

Graphic reads "engage more with the public. Enable two-way conversations to build trust with young people". Illustration shows an expert and young person talking through 2 phones.

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