Socio-virtual Broadcasting Platforms Contributing to Health Risks in sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review Protocol
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Background
The development and continuous advancement of the internet, has contributed to the significant progression of globalisation and international relations. This improvement has been spearheaded by the numerous sub-sections of social media that exist on the internet, the introduction of ‘influencer culture’, and the gradual evolution of continental, and regional economies. The socio-virtual interaction of the global community has ensured that both eccentric and conventional citizens, from either industrialised, economically progressing, or under-developed countries are able to coexist on interactive socialising platforms (social media). In 2021 4.87 billion people were using socio-virtual broadcasting platforms, and the number has increased to 5.56 billion in 2025. Within the sub-Saharan African (SSA) region, 45,4% (West Africa: 42.5%, Middle Africa: 33.6%, East Africa: 28.5%, & Southern Africa: 77,0%) of the 1.6 billion citizens also use these platforms. However, despite the shared commonalities amongst the viewers; the excessive financial benefits for the content creators & influencers; and the economic advancements for conglomerates, socio-virtual broadcasting platforms have deliberately and subconsciously contributed to the current existing global, continental and regional health risks. This is due to inadequate physical activity, unhealthy eating habits, the excessive consumption of alcohol & energy drinks, and disrupted sleeping patterns because of long hours spent on these platforms ( Virtually participating in Cookbangs & Mukbangs, Podcasting, Live-streaming & Gaming ). In SSA, the current existing NCD’s are cancer = 543,471 deaths, chronic respiratory disease (CRD)=178,908 deaths, cardiovascular disease (CVD)= 1 million deaths, diabetes=416,000 deaths, poor mental health issues (leading to suicide) =200,000 deaths, and chronic kidney disease (CKD)=108,185 deaths.
Methods
The primary research question that will guide this review is: How have socio-virtual broadcasting platforms contributed to the current existing health risks in SSA? The secondary research question is: What evidence exists regarding socio-virtual broadcasting platforms contributing to health risks in SSA? These research questions will assist in systematically scoping, mapping, and synthesising evidence of socio-virtual broadcasting platforms contributing to health risks in SSA. The following databases will be utilized to search for studies: PubMed, MEDLINE, ERIC, and Cochrane Reviews. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) ScR flow chart/diagram presented in figure 1 will be utilized to summarize the study selection process. A data charting table will be used in order to document the extracted data. A narrative synthesis will be conducted, which will provide texts and tables in order to synthesize and discuss the data from the studies and the methods.
Conclusion
The commonness of content creators/influencers indulging in tobacco & synthetic nicotine products, alcoholic beverages, and psychoactive substances, whilst utilising socio-virtual broadcasting platforms (during Cookbangs & Mukbangs, Vlogs, recording short-form content, Podcasting, Live-streaming & Gaming ) is alarming. Globally, substances such as alcohol (2,5 billion), tobacco (approximately 1,3 billion), and psychoactive drugs (approximately 500 million) are consumed at an astronomical rate. Hence, the continuous global increase in health risks and NCD’s. Regrettably, only 12% of countries throughout the globe have restricted the advertising of these products on the internet and socio-virtual broadcasting platforms. Moreover, the encouragement of casual sex/hook-up culture on numerous socio-virtual broadcasting platforms is problematic. The global escalation of sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) such as bacterial STI’s (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis), and viral STI’s (HIV, genital herpes, hepatitis, HPV) in October 2025 is currently 273 million (more than 1 million people are newly infected with STI’s each day). The proposed systematic review will generate findings pertaining to socio-virtual broadcasting platforms contributing to health risks in SSA. These findings will/can reveal the current existing literature gaps, and inform humanitarian organisations such as WHO, UNESCO, and UNICEF.
Systematic reviews registration
PROSPERO (CRD420251157784)
