Social Media and Health Misinformation: A Literature Review

This paper examines the current state of health misinformation within social media platforms and its potential impact on public health and safety. With the proliferation of the internet, specifically social medias, there has been an exponential increase in the speed of spread and accessibility of misinformation online. This research consisted of a review of literature that explored the role of social medias in the spread of health-related misinformation online. Trends in reporting health-related misinformation, common platforms of its dissemination, and characteristics of those who share misinformation online were also examined. Based on the literature reviewed, misinformation on diseases, vaccinations, nutrition, drugs, and smoking were recurrent themes. The motives behind resharing health misinformation were found to be varied but influenced by psychological and social processes. Furthermore, this paper highlights the context of health-related misinformation to demonstrate the ongoing societal and public health consequences of false information. The findings of this literature review support the call for policymakers and public health educators to protect the public from the spread of health misinformation through policy enactment and the promotion and funding of advanced technologies.