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One second, you’re watching a video of a cute animal, and the next, it’s given to you without asking Health advice from a wellness influencer Who swears a trendy diet will cure their disease.
We live in a world where we have our own social media channels Controlled by artificial intelligence algorithms That fuels engagement. And more people engage with healthy content than you think.
A A new study was released Tuesday in JAMAThe Journal of the American Medical Association found that among American adults who used social media over the previous 12 months, nearly 85% reported that they shared health information, either personal or general, on social media platforms, while nearly 70% participated in health-related online communities.
Although the majority of users (78%) thought the health information they saw on social media was false or misleading, more than one in five said they made health decisions based on the content they saw on it.
“Physicians, public health leaders and platforms must take this information environment seriously,” he said. Dr. Rohan Kheraa cardiologist and data scientist at Yale University School of Medicine and one of the study’s authors.
“The goal should not simply be telling people to avoid social media, but improving the quality of health information in places where people already spend time,” Khera told CNET.
The study comes at a time Many struggle to find it Continuous and affordable access to healthcare, making free health content on social media instantly available.
The results are based on 7,278 people who participated in the 2024 National Health Information Trends Survey. Conducted annually By the National Cancer Institute to learn about the American public’s use of health and cancer information.
Most of us are on social media. We need more trusted healthcare sources to join us there.
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In particular, users and Hispanic adults aged 65 and older were found to be more likely to make health decisions based on social media content. Black and Hispanic individuals were also reportedly less likely than white individuals to distrust health content on social media, while those with higher education or household income were more likely to distrust it, regardless of other factors.
Among adults with chronic illnesses who used social media, they were less likely than those without chronic illnesses to share health information or participate in online communities. It is unclear whether this was because they were already receiving regular care from a specialist doctor.
“This study focused on how people interacted with health information on social media, but it did not evaluate the specific content people were viewing, where it came from or whether it was accurate,” Khera said. Future studies could expand on the sources of health information via social media, and delve into whether it comes from AI or from a doctor or influencer.
Since the study relied on self-reported survey data, the results may be subject to bias.
“We also need to better understand the types of content that are most likely to influence decisions, which groups may be most affected, and how platforms can promote accurate health information while reducing misleading claims,” Khera concluded.
Ultimately, health misinformation affects all population groups. When medical professionals are not accessible, many of us are left to independently review and verify health-related social media content.
