Reels as research? How residency applicants can leverage social media

It is easy to pass hours doomscrolling on the negative effects of social media. But for one group of future physicians—fourth-year medical students and other residency applicants—there are many positive sides to social media. 

Although social media has been an influential source of information for residency applicants for years its role in residency selection is evolving. 

In-person interview restrictions put in place during the COVID-19 public health emergency—and that were largely retained for applicant convenience and cost efficiency—turned program-specific social media accounts into a necessity. In the current landscape, platforms such as Instagram, Reddit and X are part research tools and part networking spaces.

While official resources such as residency program and specialty-society websites are the most reputable and reliable, social media platforms have a place in residency selection. To maximize their efficacy and contextualize their importance, said AMA member Liz Southworth, MD, it’s best for applicants to use social media platforms intentionally.

“If you’re going to have a [social media] presence and be searchable, then it’s worth taking the time to make sure you are putting your best version of your application or the best version professionally of yourself out there,” said Dr. Southworth, a urogynecology fellow in Texas who has studied and counseled residency applicants on effective social media habits. 

So how can residency applicants maximize social media for information gathering and networking while also taking care to ensure they don’t stand out for the wrong reasons? These tips offer insight on that question. 

Know what content is valuable

Once populated by months-old Match Day photos and group shots of incoming or outgoing trainees, residency program social media accounts are more active and informative than ever before, making them a key factor in the impression potential applicants form about programs.

Published in the academic journal JMIR Medical Education, a 2025 study of 69 fourth-year medical students who successfully matched at a single institution found that 65.2% used social media to learn about prospective residency programs. The content respondents valued most highlighted resident-faculty relations (89.5%), social events (86.8%) and education (60.5%).

“In the era of virtual interviewing—where people are not necessarily able to go and see places in person anymore—social media can give you real insight on life inside of a residency program,” Dr. Southworth said.

Use posts to inform interview topics

The 2025 study found that social media matters more for perception than early application decisions such as where to apply or interview. So, an Instagram post might not be a factor that informs your interview and application strategies. Yet social media information can help applicants develop an informed approach come interview day.

In this AMA news article, medical students and other residency applicants will get valuable information regarding:

• Which social media platforms are most useful for researching prospective residency programs.
• Why Instagram offers unique insight on program culture, resident camaraderie and life outside the medical center.
• How to engage professionally with residency programs on social media.
• Which topics are best addressed in a direct message (DM) or email than in public comments.  
• Why applicants should not read into social media interactions from residency programs.
• The utility and risks associated with anonymous platforms such as Reddit and Discord.