Using social media
EVENTS
Community Navigators described using social media to complement personal interaction to further facilitate dissemination of information and support. Community Navigators reported that personal interactions were an important part of the intervention because they provided a more personable approach, particularly during the early stages of implementation and when recruiting individuals within their social networks to participate. Social media was also an essential tool utilized by Community Navigators throughout the course of the intervention in addition to these personal interactions, and after the COVID‐19 pandemic began many Community Navigators adapted their interactions to rely solely on social media. Community Navigators posted on their social media accounts about resources or community events, and these posts benefited not only their immediate social network but also extended their reach to their social network members' larger networks and individuals whom they would not have interacted with otherwise. Expanding reach in these ways had a dual impact on Community Navigators' work by strengthening both their confidence as Community Navigators and their rapport within the community. In addition, Community Navigators noted other advantages of social media, including that it was a direct and instant form of communication between Community Navigators and social network members and, in some cases, made conversations about sensitive topics easier and more comfortable than in face‐to‐face communication.