A content analysis of 550 tweets about prenatal and postnatal marijuana exposure found that most tweets had a neutral tone suggesting uncertainty, while the news sources they linked to primarily reported negative outcomes like poor brain development and low birth weight.
Read this if you are interested in how cannabis and pregnancy information spreads on social media.
77.6% of tweets about marijuana and pregnancy had a neutral tone
What the researchers found
Researchers collected 550 tweets from Twitter's inception through April 2017 that discussed marijuana use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
The majority of tweets (77.6%) had a neutral tone, suggesting widespread uncertainty about the health effects of cannabis exposure during pregnancy. The sources attached to tweets, however, were more likely to report negative health outcomes.
The most commonly reported risks of prenatal marijuana exposure were poor brain development (27.3%), inadequate nervous system development (23.6%), low birth weight (23.3%), poor behavioral outcomes (21.0%), and infant memory issues (19.3%).
For the breastfeeding period, the most frequently reported concern was the inverse association between marijuana use and the quality and quantity of breast milk.
Why it matters
Social media is increasingly where people get health information, especially on stigmatized topics they may not feel comfortable discussing with a doctor. Understanding what information is circulating on platforms like Twitter about cannabis and pregnancy reveals gaps in public health messaging.
The numbers in context
550 tweets analyzed. 77.6% had neutral tone. Top prenatal concerns: brain development (27.3%), nervous system (23.6%), low birth weight (23.3%), behavior (21.0%), memory (19.3%).
How the study worked
Content analysis of tweets collected from 2006 to April 2017 using search terms related to marijuana and pregnancy or infant health. All 550 captured tweets were coded for tone (positive, negative, neutral) and linked sources were examined for health outcome reporting.
What this study cannot tell us
Twitter data captures public discourse, not health outcomes or actual use patterns. Tweets were collected through keyword searches which may have missed relevant discussions. The study could not determine whether tweet content influenced actual behavior. The analysis predates major changes in cannabis legalization and Twitter platform dynamics.
How to read the evidence
This is a content analysis of social media data, providing preliminary evidence about public discourse patterns rather than health outcomes.
When this study was published
Published in 2018 with tweets through April 2017. Social media discourse on this topic has likely evolved since then.
The bigger picture
The prevalence of neutral-toned tweets (suggesting uncertainty rather than clear risk communication) indicates that public health messaging about cannabis and pregnancy may not be reaching social media audiences effectively. As cannabis legalization expands and use during pregnancy ranges from 3-30%, this communication gap is worth addressing.
Questions still open
- Has social media messaging about cannabis and pregnancy shifted as more states have legalized? Do pregnant people who see neutral or positive tweets about cannabis use during pregnancy make different decisions than those exposed to risk-focused messaging?
Common questions
What did most tweets say about marijuana and pregnancy?
What were the most commonly reported risks?
Read the original research
The perception of pre- and post-natal marijuana exposure on health outcomes: A content analysis of Twitter messages.
Journal of neonatal-perinatal medicine, 11(4), 409-415
Citation
Dakkak, H; Brown, R; Twynstra, J; Charbonneau, K; Seabrook, J A. (2018). The perception of pre- and post-natal marijuana exposure on health outcomes: A content analysis of Twitter messages.. Journal of neonatal-perinatal medicine, 11(4), 409-415. https://doi.org/10.3233/NPM-17133
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