Hello Fellow Netizens,
I hope you have all been keeping cool these past few months! With so many major events occurring in the health care space, I thought I would take a step back and focus on a topic that can help ground the information we encounter daily. Although other mainstream media outlets have covered this subject in the past, I wanted to approach it from the perspective of someone immersed in earning a medical degree while also navigating an era of so-called “influencers” and online personalities. So, let us dive in, shall we?
Medical Misinformation – Where we are Today
Medical misinformation in 2026 takes many forms and faces. When I open my phone and scroll through social media apps like Facebook or Instagram (no TikTok for me!), the algorithm seems to recognize that I am studying medicine and bombards me with videos from content creators promoting various medical claims. Although some of these videos are harmless, funny, or genuinely informative, far too many contain statements that are either grossly misrepresented or simply wrong.
One of my favorite online creators who calls out this type of content is Dr. Vicki Chan (This is not sponsored, and I am in no way affiliated with her—I just love her content!). Her videos highlight health care “influencers” and online commenters who make inaccurate medical claims that can pose a clear danger to the public. One example, included below, addresses claims about ivermectin as a treatment for RNA viruses. The video was released during the hantavirus outbreak that occurred aboard a Dutch cruise ship in April.
Although we could simply shrug and say that anyone with an opinion and a phone can share their views on medical issues, I find it concerning when online personalities promote false claims disguised by semi-convincing fragments of truth. Many Netizens, especially those who are young or impressionable, might take these statements at face value without thinking twice about how credible or truthful they are. One of the more dubious examples is Goop, the wellness and beauty company founded by American actress Gwyneth Paltrow. The company has previously faced legal consequences related to products it marketed to consumers. In 2018, it reached a $145,000 settlement over its “vaginal eggs,” which were claimed to help correct hormonal imbalances and enhance orgasms.
However, a quick look at Goop’s “wellness” section as of August 2026 shows that the company is still selling products whose descriptions are sprinkled with misleading medical jargon. For example, consider the rainbow-colored mat below:
On the description of the Healthyline Rainbow Chakra Mat™, it states that customers have
the option to bask in pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) and seven colors of light. Simply lie down on top of the mat or take a seat for a meditation. (The rainbow stones are nicely suited for any practice involving your chakras.)
Beyond the steep price tag, which may put this product out of reach for many Americans, the mention of pulsed electromagnetic fields raised my eyebrows. Although PEMFs have demonstrated utility in certain bone-healing applications, particularly established fracture nonunion, evidence supporting their effectiveness for most other conditions remains limited. Also, any health benefit from PEMF treatment should be discussed with a trusted healthcare professional; the idea that customers would get anything from a mat they bought online without any tests to validate claims like the one above is highly unlikely.
Some companies attempt to persuade consumers by incorporating legitimate medical concepts, such as PEMFs, into their products and using labels like “Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registered” to imply that the devices have been tested and approved. In fact, the FDA published a notice clarifying that registration does not mean a device has been tested or approved by the agency for its intended medical use.
All of this is to say that, as consumers, we must carefully evaluate the products that influencers and companies sell, especially when they are marketed for medical purposes or claim to have health benefits that have not been verified by a third party organization.
How to Protect Yourself
Fellow Netizens, as readers and consumers of information, you have the power to protect yourselves and your families from the dangers of medical misinformation. Although I do not want to reinvent the wheel with these suggestions, these tips have been repeated by trusted sources (including yours truly) for a reason!
- DO YOUR RESEARCH! With phones, televisions, and computers at our disposal, it does not take much effort to verify the information presented by news outlets, media sources, or influencers. However, when conducting your research, make sure you consult medically reliable resources. You may be wondering, “Well, how do I know what is accurate?” I suggest consulting medical organizations led by physicians, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians, or the American Academy of Family Physicians. I would also ordinarily recommend government agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. However, given the politicization of these agencies, I would currently rely on them primarily for basic, noncontroversial information. For topics such as reproductive care and vaccines, consider speaking with your trusted physician or consulting the medical organizations listed above.
- If they are selling something, be cautious! Influencers and other peddlers frequently make their products stand out by using provocative terms such as “Big Pharma,” “GMO,” or “not organic” to capture your attention. They may even attack physicians or question their integrity as medical experts – I have witnessed this firsthand during my medical training, which has been shocking, to say the least. If someone stands to profit from your belief in a medical claim, carefully examine the evidence and potential conflict of interest before purchasing anything.
- Who is talking to you? When evaluating the influencers and media personalities on your screens, ask yourself, “Who are these people?” Although it may sound silly, taking a moment to examine their credentials, professional history, and activities can help you determine whether they are credible sources of medical information. For example, if a chiropractor offers advice about cardiac medications, you may want to think twice about relying on that advice because the subject falls outside their professional expertise. The same caution applies when a wellness influencer with no medical background promotes the supposed health benefits of a particular supplement. These examples appear far too often online, and we, as fellow Netizens, must remain both curious and critical about the information we encounter.
Make sure to follow these tips whenever you hear anything related to medicine online and you should be protected from most misinformation out there. I hope you all found this article useful and watch out for the next post!
Until next time, fellow Netizens!
Featured Photo: Photo by Markus Winkler: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-paper-in-a-typewriter-5192922/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the author’s own opinions and statements. They do not reflect the opinions or stances of any organization affiliated with the author
