The pitfalls of using social media and AI for health decisions, according to a doctor
Why Social Media Is Reshaping How Americans Make Health Choices
The pitfalls of using social media – When you wake up with an unexplained rash or wonder if that strange symptom is serious, where do you turn? Increasingly, millions of Americans are posting their questions online with hashtags, seeking answers from social media rather than traditional medical sources. Whether searching for symptom explanations, exploring potential diagnoses, or researching treatment options, digital platforms have become a primary information hub. A recent study published on June 30 in the medical journal JAMA reveals that over one-fifth of American adults who use social networks have made health-related decisions based on what they encountered online.
This shift raises important questions about how we should approach digital health information. What are the potential dangers? How should we evaluate artificial intelligence tools that increasingly curate our online feeds? To explore these topics, I consulted Dr. Leana Wen, a CNN wellness expert who serves as an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at George Washington University. She also brings valuable perspective from her previous role as Baltimore’s health commissioner.
Key Findings from the New Research
The study uncovered several significant trends about Americans’ digital health behaviors. According to Dr. Wen’s analysis, social media has evolved into a crucial health information channel. Nearly 88 percent of adults reported using social platforms within the past year. Among those users, almost 85 percent shared either general or personal health updates, while approximately 70 percent actively participated in online health communities.
The most notable finding was that more than 1 in 5 social media users — about 47 million Americans — reported making health decisions based on information they saw on social media.
Interestingly, despite heavy reliance on these platforms, nearly 78 percent of users acknowledged that health information found on social media could be false or misleading. The research also identified demographic patterns: older adults and Hispanic users showed higher likelihoods of making health decisions based on social media content.
Adults managing chronic conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and mental health disorders were just as likely as healthier individuals to base decisions on online information. This suggests social media serves not only healthy populations but also those navigating ongoing medical challenges.
Understanding the Survey Methodology
Researchers drew their conclusions from the 2024 Health Information National Trends Survey, a nationally representative study funded by the US National Cancer Institute. The team examined responses from more than 7,270 adults, which represents approximately 262 million adults across the United States. This comprehensive approach helped researchers understand how people genuinely engage with health information on social platforms.
Why Digital Platforms Are So Popular for Health Queries
Dr. Wen explained that several understandable factors drive this trend. Social media offers speed, accessibility, and zero cost at any hour of the day. Certain platforms provide short, digestible videos or graphics that simplify complex medical topics for everyday users. Additionally, people can hear directly from others who have experienced similar diagnoses, treatments, or procedures—offering reassurance that textbooks or medical websites cannot replicate.
Another contributing factor is the growing complexity of modern healthcare. Office visits are frequently time-constrained, leaving patients with unanswered questions. When new concerns arise but providers remain unreachable, patients often turn to social media to learn more about conditions, discover how others managed side effects, or gather practical tips for living with chronic illnesses.
Major Risks of Digital Health Information
One of Dr. Wen’s primary concerns involves the lack of distinction between expert advice and personal opinion on social platforms. An experienced physician, a research scientist, a patient sharing their journey, and an influencer with no medical training promoting their own “treatments” may all appear together in someone’s feed, making it difficult to identify the most reliable sources.
Furthermore, social media algorithms prioritize engagement over accuracy. Posts that evoke surprise, emotion, or controversy typically spread much farther than nuanced scientific explanations, accumulating more likes and responses. Financial conflicts of interest also pose challenges, as some creators—including certain medical providers—receive compensation to promote supplements, diagnostic tests, or wellness products without always disclosing these relationships.
Finally, the algorithms embedded within social media platforms can perpetuate misinformation, creating echo chambers where inaccurate health claims gain momentum simply because they generate engagement rather than because they are factually sound.