The impact of unhealthy food marketing on children on social media platforms

: Social media platforms, with their unique creative style, are rapidly gaining popularity and occupying more and more of children's time. However, when it comes to food-related behaviors, few studies have explored their effects on children. Therefore, a study on the impact of unhealthy food marketing on children on social media platforms was proposed. This review aims to assess the evidence on how children's exposure to unhealthy food marketing on social media platforms affects their cognitive, emotional and behavioural responses to food and food brands. A systematic review and meta-analysis based on research questions centered on the effects of online food marketing techniques on food attitudes, preferences, and consumption among children (0-18 years of age), and whether there is a covariate effect on outcomes due to children's vulnerability. Under the guidance of PRISMA, a systematic review was conducted through a variety of research methods, such as qualitative and quantitative methods. The results of the study showed that a total of 31 articles were included to identify negative outcomes of the social media influence of unhealthy food marketing, such as unhealthy food brand preference, consumption preference, tendency to skip breakfast (heterogeneity 97.8%, large, SMD:0.38, medium, etc.). 95% CI:0.33,0.40), higher frequency of consumption of unhealthy foods (heterogeneity 95.6%, SMD:0.5, 95% CI:0.35,0.55), and subgroup analysis stratified by age and exposure conditions. It is concluded that exposure to unhealthy food advertisements on social media can increase the consumption and preference of unhealthy food among children and adolescents. These data provide support for public health researchers to explore more consistent research methods and collect more data.