Health misinformation on social media could lead to a ‘sicker UK’, experts warn
Cambridge graduate Paloma Shemirani collapsed on July 19 last year and was taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital where she died five days later. Her brother says she was the victim of medical misinformation. Photo by Gareth Fuller / PA
The Independent
Social media is swarming with false and misleading health advice on topics such as vaccines, reproductive health and disease outbreaks, experts have warned.
They say the surge of misinformation online as well as from AI tools, not only puts individual lives at risk but will lead to a sicker, less productive, UK population.
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) said online content is persuading people to avoid childhood vaccinations, or take unproven treatments.
“Without tackling inaccurate or misleading health information we risk turning the clocks back and reversing decades of progress and the many benefits routine vaccination has brought in preventing diseases,” warned Professor Liam Smeeth Director of LSHTM.
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