MaskTogetherAmerica Poster Presentation at the Long COVID International Conference
See examples of our 5-prong communication model for Long COVID Public Health and Prevention
MaskTogetherAmerica (MTA) invites you to immerse yourself into the content from “A Grassroots Digital Communication Model for Long COVID Public Health and Prevention”—presented at the 4th Long COVID International Conference in Nice, France (Paper No. 129).
Long COVID is A Hidden and Escalating Global Health and Disability Crisis
The lack of diagnostic standards and active public health outreach leads to patients’ needs being overlooked.
Watch this introductory video to uncover the background and strategic framework behind MTA’s model. This presentation by Dr. Robi Tamargo, Psy.D., reveals documented evidence of systemic underfunding in public health communication, alongside social media censorship that compounds the effects of the harsh digital ecosystem our model was built to navigate. That historical context drives the creation of our conceptual framework designed to overcome the digital barriers.
To increase Long COVID visibility, amplify patient experiences, and promote prevention awareness on social media, MTA adopted 5 core strategies:
🔴 Strategy 1 (S1): Scientific Annotations — Translate and summarize peer-reviewed research. 🟠 Strategy 2 (S2): Expert-Patient Forums — Convene patients, researchers, & healthcare providers for virtual discussions. 🟡 Strategy 3 (S3): Inclusive Representation — Amplify perspectives from underrepresented groups, including youth and transgender communities. 🟢 Strategy 4 (S4): Storytelling — Share individual experiences of COVID-19 and Long COVID. 🔵 Strategy 5 (S5): Mobilization — Equip communities to share data, resources, and prevention toolkits, build solidarity, and empower collective action to advocate for systemic visibility, government support, and funding for Long COVID. |
To analyze our communication model, we randomly evaluated 93 sample posts from a database of 4,545 cross-shared Instagram and Facebook assets (April 2020 – May 2026). We grouped the content into four supplemental tables by topic to measure the effectiveness of each strategy.
We assessed raw metrics (views, reach, saves, shares, and reposts) alongside 3 performance ratios:
💟 Category 1: Engagement Value = Views ÷ Reach 🍎 Category 2: Information Utility = Saves ÷ Reach × 100% ⭐️ Category 3: Dissemination Power = (Shares + Reposts) ÷ Reach × 100% |
Results
Tables 5 and 6 show the raw and ratioed metrics of selected posts. Click the links to view and interact with the original Instagram content.
Supplemental Table 5: High Raw Metrics – Features posts with the highest total views, reach, and interactions.
High in Raw Metrics | Date | Strategy | Context & Educational Impact | Strategic Outcome |
🏆 Top Views | Jan 5, 2026 | 🔵 S5 | "Dec 27 2025 Data Report"Infographic: Respiratory surveillance data for Dec 21-27, 2025—raising awareness of current illness trends and prevention. | 👑 343,714 Total Views |
🏆 Top Reach | Apr 23, 2026 | 🔴 S1 | "LC Ear"Annotation: Long COVID research on ear-related manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2, including tinnitus, vertigo, and hearing loss. | 👑 88,702 Unique Reach |
🏆 Top Interactions | Jan 25, 2026 | 🟡 🟢 S3/S4 | "Tina Sugandh & Kids" ReelFeature: Taekwondoin Tina Sugandh and her black belt kids share practical tips for competing in masks and explain why pediatric Long COVID awareness is so urgent. | 👑 15,669 Total Interactions |
🏆 Top Storytelling | Oct 2, 2024 | 🟢 S4 | "Bane" ReelFeature: Bodybuilder Bane recalls the devastating impact of COVID-19–related illness and loss in his family, sharing a powerful, personal appeal for prevention. | 👑 80,971 Unique Reach |
Supplemental Table 6: Strong Ratioed Metrics – Isolates top examples across our three metric categories. These data reveal distinct response patterns shaped by dissemination barriers and an adversarial misinformation ecosystem that restricts the visibility of evidence-based public health data.
| Ratioed Metric Category | Date | Strategy | Context & Educational Impact | Strategic Outcome |
💟 High Engagement Value🍎 High Info Utility | Oct 10, 2023 | 🟠 🟡 S2/S3 | "Dr. Robi Tamargo’s Insights on Long COVID Kids"Expert Forum: Dr. Robi Tamargo discusses Pediatric Long COVID and challenges viewpoints that attribute symptoms solely to the psychological effects of lockdowns and precautions. | 🥇87.04x Engagement Value |
💟 High Engagement Value | Dec 4, 2025 | 🔴 S1 | “Irish Farmers Journal: More that 200 LC Symptoms”Annotation: An Irish Farmers Journal article by Rosalind Skillen highlights that Long COVID encompasses more than 200 symptoms, underscoring its capacity to shatter human lives. | 🥈50x Engagement Value |
💟 High Engagement Value | Apr 20, 2026 | 🔴 S1 | "LC Eye"Annotation: Long COVID research on ocular manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2 drawing attention to symptoms and effects that may be overlooked. | 🥉47.45x Engagement Value |
🍎 High Info Utility | Apr 28, 2024 | 🟠 S2 | "Dr. Akiko Iwasaki (Prevent LC)"Expert Forum: Yale Prof. Akiko Iwasaki discusses possible Long COVID root causes and the need for a layered approach to prevention. | 🥈23.81% Info Utility |
🍎 High Info Utility | Oct 9, 2023 | 🟠 S2 | "Dr. Angelique Corthals: Viral Reservoir"Expert Forum: CUNY Assoc. Prof. Dr. Angelique Corthals explains how cellular persistence of SARS-CoV-2 drives viral reinfection and transmission. | 🥉22.18% Info Utility |
🍎 High Info Utility | Aug 16, 2025 | 🔵 S5 | "Swiss Cheese Defense Guidance Toolkit"Infographic: Layered prevention strategies designed to support community education. | 👍3.18% Info Utility |
⭐️ High Dissemination Power | Oct 1, 2025 | 🟠 🟡 S2/S3 | "Dr. Robi on Serious Neuro Outcomes (Youth)"Expert Forum: Dr. Robi Tamargo discusses potential neurological effects of COVID-19 in young people and their implications for prevention awareness. | 🥇4.87% Dissemination Power |
⭐️ High Dissemination Power | Apr 28, 2026 | 🟢 S4 | "Drew Empire" ReelFeature: Hip-hop musician Drew Empire shares his rationale for organizing mask-required events, emphasizing community protection against infection-induced immune dysregulation. | 🥉4.48% Dissemination Power |
Support Our Work
Thank you for reviewing our communication model. If you are viewing this outside the conference, you can access the full poster and study materials below.
Please support our volunteer campaign on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, YouTube and X, by liking, commenting, and sharing our content. Together, we can drive engagement, expand our reach, and shine a light on those neglected by this growing health and disability crisis.
Access the Abstract, Dataset, and Analysis: MTA Study Supplemental Table Metrics