Science communication and online social networks: Challenges and opportunities

Science increasingly involves its dissemination to the non-specialized public, and social networks have a relevant role in this communication. This article aims to reflect on this dissemination, which is critical but also involves risks, such as controlling the fake news validated by the (biased) use of scientific knowledge. How to mitigate these risks? To this end, a discussion on this subject is put forth, as well as some proposals for possible action. The technique chosen to gather information was the collection and document analysis of articles on this topic. The results allow concluding that, if correctly used, virtual channels have a high potential for science communication, thus helping it reach a wider public beyond other scientists/the academic community. These virtual spaces allow science dissemination in a socially more interesting way, and their use should be encouraged, provided that the ethical principles underpinning science production and communication are safeguarded.