How to Spot Medical Misinformation Online: 1 in 3 Gen Z Men Turn to Social Media for Health Advice

Some Gen Z men are turning to social media for their health advice due to the abundance of information available online.

A recent survey from the Cleveland Clinic found that one out of every three Gen Z men in the U.S. relies on social media for their health information.

Over the summer, a survey was conducted among 1,000 U.S. men aged 18 and above, comparing the health concerns of American men across different generations.

"According to Cleveland Clinic, while all generations view healthcare providers as a top source of health information and advice, the use of other sources varies by age. Specifically, Gen Z men are the most likely of all generations to rely on social media for health information."

Experts who spoke to CNBC Make It in April of this year emphasized the importance of fact-checking health advice online. They shared four signs for spotting health misinformation online.

4 signs of medical misinformation online

People frequently fall for false information because they haven't taken a moment to perform basic checks, according to Dr. Seema Yasmin, author of "What The Fact?!: Finding the Truth in All the Noise," a book on media literacy.

According to Yasmin and Deen Freelon, a professor at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, there are several indicators that a post online is sharing health misinformation.

1. Yasmin advised questioning the accuracy of any health information that uses words like "cure," "100% effective," and "guaranteed."
2. Yasmin pointed out that health information posts that elicit emotional responses can be intentionally designed to deceive and manipulate individuals into sharing falsehoods.
3. Be cautious when encountering social media posts promoting an unproven cure for a health condition, as these may not be trustworthy and could be part of a scam. Freelon advised that it's essential to verify the source of the information before accepting it as true.
4. If something "seems a little bit ridiculous or like science fiction," then that's a red flag, Freelon said. "The sorts of things that start to fall apart when you start asking even the most basic questions."

Yasmin and Freelon advise always verifying the credibility of online health information sources before accepting them as reliable. Yasmin questioned whether the source is truly qualified to speak on the topic, while Freelon emphasized the importance of checking the source's track record for accuracy.

Verify the accuracy of health information by checking trusted sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or state health organizations.

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