Social media use in health communication and its effects on health literacy; the case of Beyoğlu district

In recent years, the internet which had been developing rapidly with wealthy portals creates the social media networks. Social media, which is a new communication concept, has popular usage as a means of health communication tool. Health information systems refer to transmits information, health education, advertisement and campaigns related to the health of individuals or the activities of organisations that work within the health sector. The argument of study is that the use of social media as a means of health communication tool has positively contributed to the level of health literacy. The literature research was made about the subject. Health communication role of social media, its effect on people, the frequency of use by people, the health information and people's attitudes towards the health news were revealed by a field study conducted by a survey method in a selected region. In evaluating the research results, it was seen that a large majority of participants in the survey actively use social media networks. They also were interested in health news on social media, but they don't have complete confidence in the source of the information. According to the result, suggestions have been made about how to make more reliable and controlled health information for the achievement of the goal of raising health literacy through health communication tool. Also the result makes proposals in order to be effective of the use of social media as a means of health communication tool on the target group.