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The TikTok Doc Is In: But Will Your Patient Trust the Diagnosis?
Health information permeates social media platforms exposing Americans to advice, even when they don't want it. The good news? Not many trust it!
Social media platforms have become a major channel through which the public encounters health information, whether they actively seek it or not.
According to the latest KFF Health Information and Trust Tracking Poll, more than half of US adults report using social media at least occasionally to find health advice, with younger adults, and Black and Hispanic adults, reporting engagement at the highest rates. The content they are exposed to ranges from weight loss and nutrition tips to mental health discussions and vaccine information. Even individuals who say they “never” use social media for health purposes often see health-related posts in their feeds.
For health care professionals, these findings offer important insight into where patients may be getting their health information and how much they trust it. Trust in social media health content is generally low—fewer than 1 in 10 users say most of what they see is trustworthy—but certain platforms and influencers exert more influence among specific demographic groups. Understanding these trends can help clinicians anticipate patients’ questions, address misinformation, and identify opportunities to guide patients toward credible, evidence-based sources.
The short slide show above highlights the KFF poll findings for an at-a-glance review.
