US Adults Get Health Info from Social Media
Analysis based on 11 articles · First reported May 09, 2026 · Last updated May 09, 2026
The survey by the Pew Research Center highlights the growing influence of social media on health information consumption, which could impact the healthcare and social media industries. Companies like Meta Platforms — Instagram and ByteDance — TikTok Shop are platforms for this trend, and the need for transparent and credible health advice could lead to new regulatory discussions or business models for influencers like Courtney Babilya and Nedra Glover Tawwab.
A new survey by the Pew Research Center reveals that approximately 40% of U.S. adults, and half of those under 50, obtain health information from social media or podcasts. The survey also found that only about 40% of health and wellness influencers with over 100,000 followers have a professional health background. Experts, including Courtney Babilya, Fatima Daoud Yilmaz, and Nedra Glover Tawwab, advise skepticism when consuming online health content, emphasizing the importance of verifying credentials, being wary of emotionally charged or exaggerated claims, and recognizing financial incentives. They recommend checking sources, actively managing social media feeds, and ultimately consulting trusted medical professionals for health advice. The Associated Press Health and Science Department, supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, reported on these findings.
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