Over the last few years, misinformation about health has rapidly increased on the internet. In order to combat this growing problem, experts are pleading for increased awareness and education. Tim Caulfield is an expert in health law and policy. He noted more than anything, social media influencers and podcasters have emerged as large players in confusing the public. He points to issues of health which have been inextricably tied to politics, further obfuscating public conversation and comprehension. With misinformation spreading like never before, people — particularly our nation’s youth — are more than ever seeking out trusted sources to help them separate fact from fiction.
Chloe Kizito, 16 year-old fact checker and youth journalist Youth journalist Chloe Kizito works to counter misinformation through her teen-friendly TikTok videos. When their machine isn’t creating fake news, she teaches her classmates how to check the credibility of claims they read online. People often hit Kizito with scary health claims. She points to one example — a video that incorrectly claims the treatment is a cure for cancer. To address this, she urges her peers to follow the chain of where this content comes from before making assumptions.
As experts—including NYULMC’s Dr. Joseph Dahine—have noted, parents should not rely on the internet for answers to their medical questions. He says that when it comes to their health, patients automatically go for advice through Google. This drives dangerous results rather than avoiding interactions with trained public safety professionals.
The Role of Social Media in Misinformation
What Tim Caulfield saw and reported amounted to a health hoax across multiple platforms that is sadly symptomatic of our social media age. This, he says, along with the intertwining of every health topic with political ideology makes it more difficult for the American public to know whose information is trustworthy.
“I think the fundamental shift is that all of these topics have become political.” – Tim Caulfield
He emphasizes that harmful misinformation is not just becoming widely accepted among the public but is beginning to dictate policy in action. The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and other medical groups have voiced similar concerns, highlighting how false information is increasingly affecting public perception and healthcare decisions.
At well over a hundred, Kizito told me that this was a dramatic increase in health misinformation. This increase is especially fueled by the advent of deepfake technology and artificial intelligence on social media channels. She knows that many teens and adults feel overwhelmed trying to sort real information from falsehoods. This realization inspires her to fight for improved media literacy skills.
“I see at least one video online that’s saying like, ‘Oh, this can cure this.’ Or ‘Did you know that by doing this, you’re going to get this disease or this illness?’” – Chloe Kizito
The Human Cost of Misinformation
The impacts of health misinformation can be fatal. Dr. Joseph Dahine recounts a harrowing experience with a patient who refused proven treatments due to misinformation found online. Tragically, no matter how hard they tried to give the patient accurate information, he died.
“We spent the longest time trying to convince him that we’re just here to provide help. He ended up changing his mind, but it was too late by then and unfortunately he passed away.” – Dr. Joseph Dahine
Both Dr. Dahine and CMA president Dr. Margot Burnell have observed a concerning shift. Far more patients are now resistant to try proven medical treatment due to vaccine misinformation. This alarming development threatens the very foundation of public health, most famously by stoking vaccine hesitancy and preventable deadly diseases such as measles.
Dr. Burnell is an advocate for increasing access to primary care and all patients receiving compassionate, fact-based treatment options that help them live their best lives. She calls on healthcare professionals to meet patients where they are with compassion, but share the science in a way that will help dispel misinformation.
Strategies for Combating Misinformation
To address this insidious problem, our friend Tim Caulfield has something of a playbook to help equip consumers to cut through the noise and find the evidence that matters. He focuses on the importance of dispelling and repairing false narratives. Further, he pushes for critical thinking skills and media literacy education for the people.
“Those strategies, when done together, can make a real difference even in our polarized environment.” – Tim Caulfield
Dr. Dahine urges anyone to ask questions from trusted and credible healthcare providers. He thinks it’s important not to lean on Google results when people are in crisis. He urges patients to seek guidance from legitimate providers first, not TikTok.
“If it’s two in the morning and you’re worried about something, Google should not be the first, you know, reflex.” – Dr. Joseph Dahine
Kizito is all in on these principles. Beyond being informed, she’s an active advocate among her friends to encourage them to seek out original research before accepting health claims as fact. Her determination is an example of a powerful youth movement that is encouraging all of us to consume information more responsibly.
