Healthcare Experts: 79% Warn Social Media Misinformation Drives Harmful Treatments

Healthcare Experts Raise Alarm Over Rising Medical Misinformation Online

A growing tide of medical misinformation online has healthcare professionals deeply concerned, with more than six in ten expressing serious worries about its impact on patient care, according to a new survey released by Inlightened, a platform connecting companies with vetted healthcare experts.

The survey, conducted in October 2025, found that 61% of healthcare professionals are gravely concerned about the proliferation of false medical information online. Even more troubling, 79% warned that this misinformation is leading patients to accept potentially harmful, unproven treatments.

“The findings of this survey highlight the critical moment we are in as an industry and a nation,” said Shelli Pavone, president and co-founder at Inlightened. “As new tools, like LLMs and AI-generated video apps, spin up, the role of those experts will be more important than ever.”

The problem has reached examination rooms across the country, with 53% of respondents reporting that patients “always” or “usually” bring information from social media into consultations. One in three doctors indicated that this information is “rarely” helpful, creating new challenges in the doctor-patient relationship.

Beyond simply leading patients toward questionable treatments, misinformation is eroding the foundation of evidence-based medicine. The survey found that 78% of healthcare professionals cited a growing loss of trust in science-backed, proven treatments as a direct result of online falsehoods.

This shift transforms the role of modern clinicians, who now find themselves not only diagnosing and treating conditions but also spending valuable consultation time debunking viral myths and correcting misconceptions picked up online.

Despite recognizing the problem, many healthcare experts remain reluctant to engage on social media platforms where much of the misinformation spreads. While 70% believe more scientific and medical voices are needed on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, nearly half (44%) of those who avoid social media engagement believe the risks outweigh the rewards.

Safety concerns represent a significant barrier, with 32% of healthcare professionals specifically worried about threats to themselves or their families should they become public voices against popular but unproven treatments or health claims. This “safety gap” effectively silences qualified experts while leaving the digital landscape open to influencers who operate without similar professional or ethical constraints.

The digital ecosystem that once promised to democratize information access has become what many experts describe as a battleground for medical truth. In an environment where AI can generate convincing but false medical advice and where social media algorithms often promote engagement over accuracy, healthcare professionals feel increasingly outgunned.

Even among those who acknowledge a responsibility to combat misinformation, hesitation remains. The survey found that 60% of respondents agreed they have a duty to engage in the online conversation but qualified their response with “it’s complicated,” highlighting the nuanced challenges facing medical communicators.

The survey points to several practical solutions that could help mobilize expert voices. More than half (53%) of healthcare professionals indicated they would be more likely to share trustworthy information if they had assistance with content planning and posting. Additionally, 57% called for high-level federal officials to publicly support the medical community in its fight against misinformation.

As digital platforms continue to evolve and new technologies like generative AI further blur the lines between fact and fiction, the need for authoritative medical voices online has never been more urgent. The Inlightened survey suggests that without systematic support for healthcare experts to engage safely and effectively online, the tide of medical misinformation may continue to rise, with potentially serious consequences for public health.