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What Is Health Misinformation—and Why It Matters for Your Health

  • Writer: Imelda Wei Ding Lo
    Imelda Wei Ding Lo
  • 3 days ago
  • 4 min read

Word count: 613

Context: Sample blog article written for the Fortunus Media portfolio, created during the Build Your Portfolio Masterclass by Michelle Guillemard to demonstrate plain-language health communication, with a focus on explaining digital misinformation clearly and accurately.

Client: Fortunus Media (Sample Piece)

Year: 2025

Target Audience: Patients, caregivers, and general readers seeking trustworthy online health information; suitable for use by clinics, public-health organizations, and health-literacy programs.

Doctor reviewing medical data on a computer with digital health information projected on the wall.

Health misinformation is false or misleading medical information. It spreads quickly because it can look convincing.

Influencers, online groups, and users often spread health misinformation online, especially on Instagram, X, YouTube, and Facebook. A 2022 study found that health misinformation on these platforms ranged from 0.2% to 29%.

Sometimes the sharer believes in health misinformation. Other times, they may be profiting from clicks or sales. This mix of intent makes misinformation especially hard to untangle.

The consequences of health misinformation go beyond confusion. Read to learn why and how you can protect yourself and your loved ones.

Where Does Misinformation Come From?

Health misinformation comes from various sources:

  • Social media influencers often share eye-catching but unverified claims to gain followers. For example, a company may post about an unproven “miracle cure” to boost sales. Because posts spread fast, authorities often detect misinformation after it's gone viral.

  • Private online groups and “echo chambers” are groups where people hear opinions like their own. These groups can amplify conspiracy theories or personal stories that contradict scientific evidence.

  • Deliberate misinformation campaigns may happen. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, security agencies noted how extremist groups have used misinformation to recruit members.

How Does Health Misinformation Affect People?

Health misinformation shows up in many forms. Recent examples include:

  • Cancer misinformation: A 2025 Harvard analysis described the internet as the “Wild West” of cancer misinformation. Thousands of posts promoting “natural cancer cures” have misled people to ignore proven treatments.

  • Less trust in healthcare systems: When people start doubting expert guidance, public health officials have a harder time preventing outbreaks. An example is the rise in measles cases in Texas since COVID-19.

  • Weight-loss hacks: Popular TikTok and Instagram posts have been promoting semaglutide (sold under names like Ozempic) since the early 2020s as a quick weight-loss fix. This hype has led to off-label use and even global shortages. However, many products on social media don’t actually contain semaglutide. As such, they expose users to unknown substances and safety risks. Posts also gloss over the drug’s real side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. They also skip more serious risks, such as low blood sugar and possible links to pancreatitis and thyroid cancer.

  • COVID-19 vaccine myths: False claims about vaccines spread on Facebook and TikTok. These myths have caused some to avoid vaccination and risk facing severe illness.

  • Dangerous “cures” for COVID-19: During early 2020, some posts encourage swallowing disinfectants or ivermectin as an alternative to the COVID-19 vaccine. Poison control centers in the U.S. reported a 20% increase in calls about exposure to disinfectants and cleaners.

How To Verify Health Information Online

You can protect yourself from misleading advice by following these steps:

  • Check the source: Stick to trusted organizations. Examples include the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

  • Look for evidence: Check social media claims by looking at trusted sources. Examples include peer-reviewed journals or government websites. Remember, content creators often take claims out of context.

  • Be careful with headlines: Sensational or fear-based language often signals clickbait. This content uses exaggeration, misleading claims, and unrelated images to drive clicks.

The Takeaway on Health Misinformation

Health misinformation can cause significant societal and individual issues. Fortunately, you can protect your own health by:

  • Always checking sources

  • Looking for clear evidence

  • Avoiding sensationalism

  • Cross-checking facts.

Interested in learning more about health misinformation? Check out our blog series about health in the news to learn more.

References

American Psychological Association. (2023, November 29). How And Why Does Misinformation Spread? American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/topics/journalism-facts/how-why-misinformation-spreads 

Borges do Nascimento, I. J., Beatriz Pizarro, A., Almeida, J., Azzopardi-Muscat, N., André Gonçalves, M., Björklund, M., & Novillo-Ortiz, D. (2022). Infodemics and health misinformation: a systematic review of reviews. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 100(9), 544–561. https://doi.org/10.2471/blt.21.287654 

Farrar, O. (2025, February 10). The “Wild West” of Cancer Misinformation Online | Harvard Magazine. Harvard Magazine. https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2025/02/harvard-online-cancer-misinformation 

Loomba, S., de Figueiredo, A., Piatek, S. J., de Graaf, K., & Larson, H. J. (2021). Measuring the impact of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation on vaccination intent in the UK and USA. Nature Human Behaviour, 5(5), 337–348. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-021-01056-1 

Mathur, R. (2023). COVID-19 vaccination and fertility: fighting misinformation. Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Reproductive Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ogrm.2023.04.004

Propfe, L. E., & Seifert, R. (2025). Misrepresentation of semaglutide in social media. PubMed. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-025-04403-5 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2021, July 14). Health Misinformation Reports and Publications. HHS.gov. https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/reports-and-publications/health-misinformation/index.html 

Udow‐Phillips, M., Smyser, J., & Bagdasarian, N. (2025). Rebuilding trust in public health and medicine in a time of declining trust in science. Journal of Hospital Medicine, 20(7), 787–790. https://doi.org/10.1002/jhm.70086

World Health Organization. (2024, February 6). Disinformation and public health. Www.who.int. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/disinformation-and-public-health 



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