Abstract
We build on recent examinations questioning the quality of online information about probiotic products by studying the themes of content, detecting virtual communities and identifying key influencers in social media using data science techniques. We conducted topic modelling (n = 36,715 tweets) and longitudinal social network analysis (n = 17,834 tweets) of probiotic chatter on Twitter from 2009-17. We used Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) to build the topic models and network analysis tool Gephi for building yearly graphs. We identified the top 10 topics of probiotics-related communication on Twitter and a constant rise in communication activity. However the number of communities grew consistently to peak in 2014 before dipping and levelling off by 2017. While several probiotics industry actors appeared and disappeared during this period, the influence of one specific actor rose from a hub initially to an authority in the latter years. With multi-brand advertising and probiotics promotions mostly occupying the Twitter chatter, scientists, journalists, or policymakers exerted minimal influence in these communities. Consistent with previous research, we find that probiotics-related content on social media veers towards promotions and benefits. Probiotic industry actors maintain consistent presence on Twitter while transitioning from hubs to authorities over time; scientific entities assume an authoritative role without much engagement. The involvement of scientific, journalistic or regulatory stakeholders will help create a balanced informational environment surrounding probiotic products.
Highlights
ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to extend this line of research to understand the latent nature of conversation themes around online probiotics chatter and examine the nature and lifespan of probiotic communities on Twitter by analyzing a longitudinal dataset of probiotic-related tweets in the United Kingdom
Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms that confer a health benefit upon the host when administered in adequate amounts [1]
From a nutrition education perspective, these findings suggest that scientists studying the health effects of probiotics supplements, governmental agencies or regulators that oversee controversial labelling issues around probiotic products, or science journalists who play a critical role in disseminating scientific news around probiotics to the public exerted minimal level of influence in these networks during this period
Summary
The aim of this study is to extend this line of research to understand the latent nature of conversation themes around online probiotics chatter and examine the nature and lifespan of probiotic communities on Twitter by analyzing a longitudinal dataset of probiotic-related tweets in the United Kingdom
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
