Social media platforms offer users the opportunity to reconnect with old friends, keep tabs on beloved celebrities, and even enjoy captivating content such as videos of pygmy hippos. However, these platforms have also become a common source for health advice—a space dominated by figures like Dr. Mikhail Varshavski, widely recognized as “Doctor Mike.” Dr. Mike boasts an impressive audience, with 13.4 million YouTube subscribers, in addition to millions more on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Using this broad reach, Dr. Mike examines a myriad of health-related videos circulating on social media. The topics span from light-hearted to dangerously misleading. In his capacity as a primary care physician in New Jersey, Varshavski sees firsthand how these videos impact health decisions. According to him, social media’s influence is so pervasive that it nearly always appears in consultations—whether in questions about vaccines or the fallout of a failed online diet.
However, what’s more troubling for Dr. Mike are those individuals who avoid medical consultations entirely due to the misinformation they’ve consumed online. The omnipresence of social media makes it difficult for health research to keep pace with the rapidly evolving information. The influence is evident; a survey conducted by YouGov and the website Healthline in 2024, which included over 4,000 U.S. adults, noted that 52% had obtained health information from social media versus 34% from their doctors and 30% from reputable health websites.
Among Generation Z—those born between 1997 and 2012—67% reported engaging with health trends or products introduced to them through social media, in stark contrast to 32% of baby boomers aged between 1946 and 1964. Despite the downsides, social media does hold potential as a valuable resource for healthcare information, says Dr. Katherine Chretien, a medicine professor at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Chretien, who specializes in the study of social media within healthcare, acknowledges its role in supporting individuals with similar medical conditions.
To utilize social media health information effectively, Dr. Chretien and Dr. Varshavski offer several tips. First, they advise taking a moment to reflect before acting on online advice. Algorithms on these platforms prioritize engagement over accuracy, often presenting information that is sensational rather than factual, thus skewing people’s understanding of their health needs.
The World Health Organization promotes combatting misinformation with approaches like verifying official sources, reading entire articles instead of just headlines, and maintaining skepticism toward unbelievable claims. Before following online advice, they recommend determining the credentials of the person dispensing information and their motivations, such as financial interests.
Chretien warns against blindly trusting anyone promoting products without verifying their authenticity and the validity of their medical advice through reliable sources. As “Doctor Mike’s” show editor Sam Bowers explains, Varshavski declines most sponsorship offers, aligning only with those that harmonize with his ethical stance.
Understanding when information is shared by licensed professionals versus random influencers is crucial. Licensed medical professionals risk losing their credentials for inaccuracies, a level of accountability not shared by non-professionals. For patients confronted with confusing or misleading online medical advice, Varshavski suggests discussing it with their healthcare professional.
Dr. Chretien encourages doctors to be present online to counter misinformation, emphasizing the ethical responsibility doctors have to both individual patients and public health. Active participation on social platforms, backed by credible research, can mitigate the flood of inaccurate information.
While it’s understandable to seek quick answers, Dr. Varshavski stresses the importance of scrutinizing the way social media delivers these answers. Engaging genuinely with quality content can make a difference, helping spread factual information amid the overwhelming influx of misleading data. The ultimate goal is for social media to mirror well-researched, reliable health guidance that serves and educates the community rather than mislead it.
