JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Social media platforms have transformed the dissemination of health information, allowing for rapid and widespread sharing of content. However, alongside valuable medical knowledge, these platforms have also become channels for the spread of health misinformation, including false claims and misleading advice, which can lead to significant public health risks. Susceptibility to health misinformation varies, influenced by individuals' cultural, social, and personal backgrounds, further complicating efforts to combat its spread.

Objective:

Our study aims to examine the extent to which individuals report encountering health-related misinformation on social media and to assess how racial, ethnic, and sociodemographic factors influence susceptibility to such misinformation.

Methods:

Data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS Cycle 6), conducted by the National Cancer Institute with 5041 US adults between March and November 2022, was used to explore associations between racial and sociodemographic factors (age, gender, race/ethnicity, annual household income, marital status, location) and susceptibility variables, including encounters with misleading health information on social media, difficulty in assessing information truthfulness, discussions with health providers, and making health decisions based on such information.

Results:

Over 35.61% of respondents reported encountering ‘a lot’ of misleading health information on social media, with an additional 45% reporting seeing ‘some’ amount of health misinformation. Racial disparities were evident, with non-Hispanic Blacks (OR=0.45, 95% CI 0.33-0.6, p<.01) and Hispanics (OR=0.54, 95% CI 0.41-0.71, p<.01) reporting lower odds of finding deceptive information, while Hispanics (OR=1.68, 95% CI 1.48-1.98, p<.05) and non-Hispanic Asians (OR=1.96, 95% CI 1.21-3.18, p<.01) exhibited higher odds in having difficulties in assessing the veracity of health information online. Hispanics and Asians were more likely to discuss with providers and make health decisions based on social media information. Older adults, aged 75 and above, exhibited challenges in assessing online health information (OR=0.63, 95% CI 0.43-0.93, p<.01), while younger adults (18-34) showed increased vulnerability to health misinformation. Additionally, income levels were linked to higher exposure to health misinformation on social media (individuals with annual household incomes between USD 50 and 75K (OR=1.74, 95% CI 1.14-2.68, p<.01), and greater than 75K (OR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.20-2.66 , p<.01)exhibited greater odds, revealing complexities in decision-making and information access.

Conclusions:

This study highlights the pervasive presence of health misinformation on social media, revealing vulnerabilities across racial, age, and income groups, underscoring the need for tailored interventions.