Mapping the Scientific Landscape of Social Media’s Role in Digital Health: A Bibliometric and Network Analysis Using Biblioshiny, VOSviewer and Citespace

This bibliometric analysis explores social media’s role in digital health, examining its impact on health communication, patient engagement, and public health awareness while also addressing challenges such as misinformation, privacy concerns, and digital health literacy. The study utilizes Scopus as the bibliographic database and employs Biblioshiny, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace for data analysis and visualization. Key analyses include Annual Scientific Productions, Most Relevant Authors, and Network Visualization of Co-Citation of Cited Authors, which highlight the growth of research output, influential scholars, and academic collaboration networks. In addition, Most Relevant Sources and Timezone Network Visualization of Co-Citation of Cited Journals explore leading journals, while also weighing their influence in the shaping of the digital health discourse. The study of Countries’ Scientific Production and Network Visualization of Bibliographic Coupling of Documents shows research outputs and networks at global levels. A Co-Occurrence Analysis of Author Keywords identifies themes that are dominant and emerging, with trend topics like AI-driven digital health solutions, Mobile Health apps, and digital interventions for chronic disease management. Thematic Evolution and Thematic Mapping portray the shift from generic digital health discussions to more specialized evidence-based applications. The study discovers gaps in research dealing with AI ethics, counteracting misinformation, and being inclusive in digital health interventions. Some practical implications suggest interdisciplinary efforts, formulation of digital health policies, and finding ways to improve digital literacy for ensuring equitable healthcare solutions. These findings give interesting insights into the scientific landscape of social media in digital health, further inspiring researches and policy developments.