A Call for Broadening the Analysis of Corporate Political Activities: Insights From Social Media as a Commercial Determinant of Health; Comment on “Corporate Political Activity: Taxonomies and Model of Corporate Influence on Public Policy”

Articles in Press

Document Type : Commentary

Author

1 EPIUnit ITR, Institute of Public Health of the University Porto, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

2 Departamento de Ciências da Saúde Pública e Forenses, e Educação Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal

Abstract

Corporate political activities of unhealthy commodity industries have been identified and categorised in terms of framing and action strategies. This commentary discusses the relevance of systematically and comprehensively applying these taxonomy models to other commercial determinants of health, with special attention to their joint activities and their health implications. The social media industry is an especially relevant case to be analysed due to its direct and indirect health effects, namely those associated with digital marketing of unhealthy commodities, mis and disinformation, and social polarisation. Interferences in research, lobbying, and corporate social responsibility actions are examples of the strategies used by this industry to prevent and obstruct regulators’ efforts, limiting the control of the marketing of unhealthy products, the spread of mis/disinformation, and the promotion of violent speech and attitudes. 

Keywords

International Journal of Health Policy and Management

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 26 August 2025

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History

  • Received Date: 15 April 2025
  • Revised Date: 19 August 2025
  • Accepted Date: 25 August 2025
  • First Published Date: 26 August 2025

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