Analyzing Social Media Policies on Muscle-Building Drugs and Dietary Supplements

Abstract

Background

Use of legal and illegal muscle-building drugs and dietary supplements has been linked to many adverse health and social outcomes. Research has shown that social media use is associated with the use of these drugs and dietary supplements; however, it remains unknown whether social media companies have specific policies related to the content and advertising of muscle-building drugs and dietary supplements on their platforms. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the content and advertising policies of eight popular social media companies related to muscle-building drugs and dietary supplements.

Methods

Content and advertising policies for YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch, and Reddit were analyzed in November 2022 to determine whether there were any provisions related to legal (e.g., whey protein) and illegal (e.g., anabolic-androgenic steroids) muscle-building drugs and dietary supplements. Policies were classified as either none, restricted, or prohibited.

Results

All eight social media platforms had explicit policies prohibiting user-generated content and advertising of illicit drugs and substances (e.g., anabolic-androgenic steroids). User-generated content and advertising policies related to legal muscle-building dietary supplements across the platforms varied; however, none of the eight social media companies had a specific policy regarding user content.

Conclusions

Findings underscore the need for stronger social media content and advertising policies related to legal muscle-building dietary supplements.

Keywords:

• Social media
• whey protein
• anabolic-androgenic steroids
• policy
• young people

Author contributions

Dr. Kyle T. Ganson and Ms. Eliana Sinicropi conceptualized and designed the study, analyzed the data, drafted the initial manuscript, and critically reviewed and revised the manuscript. Dr. Jason M. Nagata critically reviewed and revised the manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Declaration of interest

All authors report no conflicts of interests to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by The Richard B. Splane Applied Social Policy and Social Innovation Fund (#307646) at the University of Toronto.