Viral voices: A multi-platform analysis of tonsillectomy on social media

Objectives: To assess the influence of social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, in shaping public perceptions about tonsillectomies and to identify the nature of the content disseminated on these platforms. Methods: A comprehensive analysis of 1482 relevant social media posts related to tonsillectomies was conducted across major platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Content was categorized based on author, topic of the post, timeframe, and overall tone. The study also compared engagement metrics across platforms. Results: TikTok emerged as the most engaging platform with a mean of 3272.8 likes per post. Patients drove 61.6 % of the discourse, with 63.9 % of discussions being lifestyle oriented. Educational content constituted 12.5 % of the overall discourse. Sentiments towards the procedure were almost evenly split, with 29.4 % positive and 28.5 % negative; 92 % of the negative posts were authored by patients. Conclusions: Patients were the most common social media authors, driving the conversation and a significant portion expressing negative views. Physicians, conversely, showed a low level of social media engagement. By understanding and addressing online narratives, clinicians can offer more informed patient support, debunk myths, and provide empathetic insights, ensuring positive patient experiences in the era of digital health communication.