Sorting fact from fiction: How to spot health misinformation

What it is, how it happens, and what you can do to help protect yourself and your family.

Read time: 4 minutes

Imagine this: you’re scrolling through your phone one day and you see a post. It has thousands of likes and hundreds of shares. It claims a common pantry item can flush toxins, cure infections and even cancel out carcinogens. With that much buzz, you might be inclined to share it with friends and family … but it might not be true.

In a highly digital world, information is readily available everywhere you look. Podcasts, social media and online forums have become a part of everyday life. Offering funny stories, family and financial advice, and, of course, health care recommendations.

There is a ton of information available for each and every ailment. Finding the possible causes, symptoms and treatments of your ailment can be a relief. However, it’s important to double-check with another source. Remember, not everything you see online is based in fact.

Why should you be on the lookout?

Health misinformation can lead to missed diagnoses, worsening illness and improper treatment plans.

Over the past several years, major medical and public health organizations have warned people that health misinformation is a growing threat. Given the sheer volume of information out there nowadays, it can be hard to know what to trust.

What is health misinformation?

It’s a widely used term, so how do health care professionals really define it? Today, it refers to false, misleading or inaccurate information.

Misinformation can be:

Hard to detect
Quick to spread
Emotionally compelling
Harmful to those who buy into it

Often, it can look like sensational claims, emotionally driven wording, cherry-picked data and absence of credible sources.

And more often than not, people aren’t doing it maliciously or in bad faith. They just don’t know that what they’re sharing isn’t accurate.

What can you do to avoid it?

There are a few tell-tale signs that show when an article, post or video might be inaccurate or false.

Look out for phrasing like “your doctor won’t tell you this” or “this ingredient is killing you.” This content is probably trying to grab your attention, not help your well-being.

Take it with a grain of salt if content claims that doctors or medical professionals are lying. This should raise a red flag.

Look for a named author, medical credentials and clearly cited sources. A fact-based article or post should always use credible sources from trusted organizations.

Research content that claims quick fixes and “miracle cures.” These are usually too good to be true. Tested and approved health care is rarely that simple.

Watch for phrases like “sponsored content” and articles that include product discounts. These are usually just trying to sell you something.

Avoiding health misinformation won’t always be possible — it can be extremely tricky to spot. Don’t feel bad if you do get fooled! Research has shown that health misinformation can affect people of all ages and education levels.

How does it spread?

It’s just like basic psychology — the more often someone hears something, the more likely they are to think it’s true, even if it’s inaccurate. And content that triggers strong emotions like fear or anger tends to spread faster online due to algorithms.

What should you do if you aren’t sure?

If you read an article or see a post online that you’re not sure about or think it could be misinformation, you have a couple options.

First, you can always go to a trusted, public source. Look for well-known medical organizations or peer-reviewed sources that explain their evidence clearly. For example, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Medical Association, and the American Cancer Society are all great places to start.

Second, if you’re really unsure and want to hear it from a trusted medical professional, contact your health care provider. Most general practitioners have a nurse line that you can call and leave a message. Typically, they get back to you within the day. Remember, your doctors are trained medical professionals who have your best interests in mind.

Spotting health misinformation can be difficult. And finding a trusted source or visiting your doctor can be time consuming. But taking that extra few minutes to check a source or talk to your doctor can give you peace of mind — and help you make confident decisions about your health.