Scroll through Instagram for ten minutes and you will probably be told to quit sugar forever, drink warm lemon water at 5 am, fix your hormones with one seed mix, or “detox” your liver with a powder someone is selling. It’s endless. Health advice has never been more accessible. And somehow, it’s never been more confusing.Social media has turned everyone into a wellness expert. A gym selfie becomes proof of medical authority. A viral reel becomes “research.” The problem isn’t that people want to share what worked for them. That’s human. The problem is when personal experience gets packaged as universal truth. One person’s weight loss trick becomes another person’s nutritional disaster.A big reason myths spread so fast is that they sound simple. Real health advice is usually boring. Eat balanced meals. Sleep properly. Move your body. Get regular check-ups. That doesn’t go viral. But “This one fruit burns belly fat overnight” does. And so it spreads, shared in family WhatsApp groups, reposted by influencers, repeated so often that it starts to feel true.Then there’s the fear factor. Posts that warn you about “hidden toxins” in everyday food or claim that doctors are hiding “natural cures” tap into distrust. It’s emotional. And emotion travels faster than evidence. Algorithms reward outrage and shock, not nuance. So the loudest voices win, not the most accurate ones.
A substantial proportion of health‑related posts on social media contain misinformation
Several systematic reviews document that a substantial proportion of health‑related posts on social media contain misinformation, especially about vaccines, smoking products, diet, and noncommunicable diseases.A 2021 systematic review (69 studies) found highest misinformation prevalence on Twitter, particularly around smoking/drugs and vaccines and still sizable misinformation on major issues such as cancer and pandemics.A WHO‑linked systematic review shows that exposure to misleading health content correlates with increased anxiety, avoidance of evidence‑based care, and reduced vaccine uptake.Not just this, a cohort study on US college students found that more social‑media use correlated with more somatic symptoms, doctor visits, and higher levels of inflammatory biomarkers (e.g., IL‑6), suggesting a link between platform overuse and poorer physical‑health indicators. Reviews on physical‑activity misinformation show that platforms such as YouTube host “extraordinary claims” about HIIT, “over‑training hacks”, and unsafe self‑prescribed regimens, which may increase risk of injury or cardiovascular events in vulnerable users.A 2025 commentary by Hall (University of Kansas) underscores that many “social media addiction” claims are based on poorly validated scales, and social media often mirrors or amplifies underlying mental‑health vulnerability rather than creating it wholesale.The damage isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes it’s subtle. A diabetic patient stops medication after watching a video claiming diet alone can reverse everything. A parent delays vaccines because a celebrity hinted they’re unsafe. A teenager develops body image issues after following extreme diet trends. These aren’t abstract risks. Doctors see the fallout in clinics every day.
Social media myths can alter the way you think
“When you believe everything you see on social media – including unverified content or myths – it creates more anxiety and self-doubt. You are constantly exposed to images of altered bodies (through filters) that depict an ideal lifestyle or success story, creating impossible standards that you will never achieve. You begin comparing yourself to them, which results in low self-esteem, stress, and a persistent feeling that you aren’t good enough – even when you have achieved a significant amount in your “real” life,” Dr. Gorav Gupta, Senior Psychiatrist & CEO – Tulasi Healthcare New Delhi told TOI Health. Misinformation related to health and emotions is especially dangerous. Incorrect advice can hold up someone’s medical assistance or service, cause stigmas, and promote unsafe self-treatment. Myths, such as “think positive,” can minimize the difficulties an individual is going through and compel him/her to seek assistance when he/she needs it the most, the expert says.“Constantly being exposed to misleading or sensationalised material can alter the way you think, give you a heightened fear, and create unrealistic expectations about your life. Over time, this negatively impacts emotional stability, confidence, and decision making – particularly for adolescents. There are several “common sense” measures that can help protect your mental wellbeing: reduce your screen time, challenge your online source information and trust reliable sources,” Dr. Gorav Gupta added.
Social media users tend to act in a manner that is acceptable to their followers
“Demerits of believing social media include the formation of core belief systems based on unverified information or believing in information that lacks credibility, reliability, and validity,” says Dr. Astik Joshi, Child & Adolescent & Forensic Psychiatrist, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi.The mental health consequences of believing in such content may include increased levels of anxiety, mood disturbances, sleep problems, and issues with self-esteem and self-worth. When the mental health disturbances increase to a level where it impedes one’s social, occupational, or psychological functioning, it is essential that mental health professionals are consulted to mitigate the harmful effects on mental health, says Dr. Astik.Sometimes, social media followers tend to validate their internal feelings through consuming content that enables their feelings and subsequently are driven to act in a manner that is acceptable to social media followers. However, this approach carries substantial risk due to the bias and polarization of content used commonly in social media to create followers. Additionally, this puts the followers at further risk to consume misinformation and creates a behavioral disturbance in them as its consequence. Furthermore, it may lead to behavioral addiction and social isolation, the doctor warns.
So what helps?
Slowing down, for one. If a claim sounds dramatic or too good to be true, it probably is. Checking whether advice comes from qualified professionals. Looking for consensus, not just one viral voice. And accepting that health is usually gradual, sometimes boring, often complex.Social media isn’t the villain. It has helped people talk openly about mental health, chronic illness, and fitness. It has built communities. But it’s also a place where half-truths dress up as facts.We don’t need to panic. But we do need to be sharper. Because when it comes to health, misinformation isn’t just annoying. It can quietly shape decisions that affect real bodies, real families, real lives. And that’s too high a price to pay for a trending reel.
