Is That True? How To Spot Health Misinformation Online

Social media is rife with wellness advice and warnings – but how do you separate genuine tips from all the BS?

Wellness advice abounds on social media: warnings about “toxic foods”, assertions that parasites are driving your sugar cravings, or claims about solving the “root cause” of bodily complaints with unproven remedies.

“Wellness woo” appears in many domains, like nutrition, dermatology, parenting and psychology, says Dr Jonathan Stea, clinical psychologist and author of a new book about mental health misinformation, Mind the Science. Common themes include distrust in mainstream medicine, the flawed belief that “natural” is always best, and an overreliance on anecdotal evidence – for instance, “I believe smearing beef tallow on my face cured my acne, so it will also cure yours!”