It is time to ask: are platforms like Twitter really the best places for conversations about issues of consequence for health?
13 years ago, as I was considering leadership positions in epidemiology, I thought it was important to find new ways of communicating about the science of public health. This led me to the still relatively new world of social media. At the time, social media seemed to hold much potential as a place for sharing the latest science, for making connections, and for helping engage with the public around issues of consequence for health. In the spirit of this engagement, I joined Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and, later, Substack. I have used these platforms to communicate broadly, because I see translation as a core part of what we do in public health. I have long believed that a robust public conversation is central to generating the ideas that shape a healthier world.
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