Social Media’s Influence on Reproductive Health Misinformation Grows

Contraceptive Access Faces Dual Crisis: Funding Cuts and Misinformation

A growing crisis in reproductive healthcare is unfolding as contraceptive funding declines worldwide and misinformation proliferates, particularly on social media platforms. The situation has reached a critical point, exemplified by the Trump administration’s recent decision to destroy nearly $10 million worth of contraceptives stored in a Belgian warehouse.

The administration has incorrectly labeled these contraceptives as “abortifacients” despite medical consensus that birth control does not cause abortion. Originally purchased with U.S. government funding for distribution in low and middle-income countries, these supplies now face incineration. Offers from the United Nations and civil society organizations to purchase and distribute them have been rejected.

This situation highlights the dual challenges facing reproductive health today: diminishing access and rampant misinformation. Social media has become a battleground where reproductive health facts compete with misconceptions. On TikTok, approximately 100 videos containing inaccurate information about birth control have amassed nearly 5 billion views, according to a recent peer-reviewed study. These videos, primarily created by influencers without medical credentials, often promote unfounded fears about hormonal contraception.

The impact is measurable. A notable decline in contraceptive use among young women in the U.S. cannot be explained by access restrictions alone, suggesting misinformation is influencing behavior at a time when access is already constrained.

Internationally, the situation is deteriorating rapidly. When the U.S. defunded direct support for family planning services and the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA), it triggered a global chain reaction. Countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, Denmark, and Sweden have also reduced their support, destabilizing what had been a decade of relatively stable international family planning assistance.

The human impact is significant. In 2023, nearly half of all pregnancies worldwide were unintended. Experts estimate that 257 million women in developing countries who wish to avoid pregnancy aren’t using modern contraception—up from 218 million in previous assessments.

Supply chain disruptions are increasingly felt in developing regions. An aid worker in Kenya warned, “By the end of the year we’ll be looking at dire situations.” Similar concerns apply to HIV prevention efforts following the suspension of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funding, potentially reversing decades of progress.

Despite these challenges, one unexpected tool has shown promise in countering misinformation: entertainment. Long-form character-driven educational programming like telenovelas has proven effective in encouraging contraceptive use and HIV testing. People exposed to such programming are reportedly three times more likely to use contraception than those who aren’t.

One successful example is the Hulu drama “East Los High,” created in collaboration with community health workers and social scientists. During its first season, the show’s website directed substantial traffic to Planned Parenthood’s mobile app for STI testing.

Short-form digital content also shows potential. The ReelShort micro-drama “Breaking the Ice,” with two-minute episodes addressing teenage romance and pregnancy, has garnered 273 million views.

“If we don’t look at these opportunities, others will,” notes Population Media Center, an organization working at the intersection of entertainment and health education. While advocates continue fighting to secure reproductive health services against declining aid, the battle for accurate information and education remains equally important.

Digital entertainment education offers a cost-effective approach with potentially massive impact. If narrative videos containing accurate, fact-based information could reach billions of young people, the effect on contraceptive use, STI testing, and advocacy for domestic family planning resources could be transformative.

As global family planning resources dwindle, creative storytelling strategies may provide a crucial pathway for preserving access to accurate information about reproductive health—addressing both sides of the contraceptive crisis: physical access and educational awareness.