Public Health Experts Should Partner With Content Creators to Combat Online Misinformation

Public health experts from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health are advocating for a collaborative approach with social media content creators to combat health misinformation online. Rather than viewing social media as an adversary, they suggest leveraging these platforms as allies in the fight against pseudoscientific health claims.

In a recent Boston Globe opinion piece, Monica Wang, adjunct associate professor of health policy and management, and Matt Motta, faculty research affiliate, outlined their strategy for countering misleading health content that has proliferated across platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Their concern focuses particularly on unverified weight-loss supplements frequently marketed to vulnerable demographics, including women, young girls, and people of color.

“If public health wants to compete with misinformation, it must stop treating social media as the enemy and start partnering with it as an ally,” the experts wrote, highlighting the need for a paradigm shift in how health authorities approach digital communication channels.

The Harvard researchers described their successful partnership through the Center for Health Communication’s Creator Program, which connects public health experts directly with influential social media creators. Through this initiative, they provided evidence-based information about weight-loss supplements to content creators who already had established audiences.

The results proved promising. After receiving accurate scientific information, these creators began incorporating more factual content into their posts, particularly regarding potential health risks associated with supplements. They also became significantly more likely to inform their audiences that these products do not require pre-market approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration—a critical regulatory gap many consumers don’t realize exists.

This approach represents a practical solution to a growing problem. Health misinformation spreads rapidly across social platforms, often outpacing corrections from official health sources. By working with rather than against the social media ecosystem, public health practitioners can reach audiences who might never encounter traditional health education materials.

Wang and Motta emphasize that scientists themselves don’t necessarily need to become social media personalities. “What we can do is partner with those who already know how to reach large, diverse audiences and equip them with content that’s credible, clear, and engaging,” they noted in their piece.

The strategy acknowledges the reality of how information circulates in today’s digital landscape. While academic journals and official health websites maintain rigorous standards, their reach is limited compared to viral social media content. By providing influencers with accurate information packaged in accessible formats, health experts can help ensure that evidence-based content reaches users where they already spend their time.

This collaborative model represents an evolution in public health communication strategy. Rather than simply denouncing misinformation or attempting to compete with entertainment-focused content, it seeks to transform existing channels into vehicles for accurate health information.

The researchers conclude with an optimistic assessment of social media’s potential: “In the right hands, [social media] can be a powerful channel to improve health communication and shift perspectives, behaviors, and health at scale.”

This initiative comes at a critical time when health misinformation continues to challenge public health efforts across numerous fronts. From vaccine hesitancy to unproven wellness trends, the digital information ecosystem has profound implications for public health outcomes. By adapting to these communication channels rather than rejecting them, health authorities may find more effective ways to promote evidence-based health practices in an increasingly fragmented media environment.

The Harvard team’s approach offers a template for other public health organizations seeking to counter misinformation without getting lost in the noise of social media platforms.