Despite Concerns about Accuracy and Disinformation, More Minorities Use Social Media for Health Information

     A new Social Health Research survey shows Americans are increasingly using social media platforms to search for health information. The study conducted last month by Social Health Research in Chatham, NJ, specifically looked at trends among minority patients.

     The study included 525 participants; two-thirds were Black, and the rest were Asian, Hispanic, and Native American. Most were between the ages of 25 and 65. Half made under $30,000 a year. Nearly 30% said their annual income was below $20,000.  

     While 68% of respondents said they get their health news by watching TV, half also said they used social media platforms for health advice.

     The trend toward using social media was more robust and exclusive among younger survey respondents. Among 25 to 44 years olds, nearly three-fourths of Hispanic, Asian, and Native American participants said social media is their first choice when seeking health information. Almost two-thirds of Black participants in this age group also chose social media as their go-to for health information.

     With anyone able to create and share content on social media, experts warn there is a risk of people getting inaccurate or misleading health information. Additionally, algorithms on social media platforms tend to cater to what is most popular to garner more hits rather than what is necessarily the most medically accurate.

     On the other hand, one of the biggest pros of this trend is the ability to access health information 24/7 from cell phones and other portable devices. Social media can be a helpful tool for promoting health education and improving public health outcomes.

Public health officials and health information specialists must consider social media as it now plays a more integral role in disseminating information and is here to stay.