From Theory to Practice: Mitigating the Harm of Online Harassment in Public Health

A new article in the Journal of Health Communication titled, "From Theory to Practice: Mitigating the Harm of Online Harassment in Public Health" explores how the networked public framework can help understand online harassment faced by public health professionals. Drawing from their own experiences, the authors emphasize the need for proactive measures and community efforts to support online health communication.

Recommendations include increasing local health department funding, regulating social media companies, and developing tools like the Digital Safety Kit for Public Health to address harassment. The article also underscores the importance of holding platforms accountable for disinformation and harassment, and the necessity for political action to secure adequate public health funding, especially highlighted by challenges faced during the pandemic. Read it here.