US adults under 50 get health advice from influencers
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 7
US adults under 50 get health advice from influencers
6 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 7
A Pew Research Center analysis of nearly 13,000 health and wellness accounts found fewer than one in five were conventional medical professionals such as doctors, dentists or nurses.
The report said 8% of those accounts had more than one million followers, and about half of people consuming such content said influencers helped them better understand how to be healthy.
Earlier Pew findings showed 41% of influencers claimed healthcare professional status and 31% identified as coaches, underscoring concerns about misinformation as social media shapes lifestyle, diet and treatment choices.
As influencer health advice surges, is it a public health crisis or a response to an inaccessible healthcare system?
With new fines for influencers, can industry certifications and regulations truly cure our online misinformation 'infodemic'?
When AI and influencers give health advice, who is legally and ethically responsible for the potential harm caused?