Health Misinformation “Super-Spreaders” Reach 24 Million Users, New Report Finds

A comprehensive report released this week has identified 53 influential social media accounts that are spreading dangerous health misinformation to approximately 24 million vulnerable users online. The troubling findings reveal a network of self-styled health experts who frequently promote advice that “directly contradicts” established public health guidelines.

According to the report “Nutrition Misinformation in the Digital Age 2024 – 2025,” published by Rooted Research Collective in partnership with The Freedom Food Alliance, more than half of these influential accounts have no health-related qualifications whatsoever. More alarmingly, 96 percent financially benefit from promoting misinformation through various revenue streams.

The monetization tactics employed by these accounts include selling unproven “biohacking” therapies, organizing pseudo-medical conferences, and aggressively marketing supplements and extreme dietary approaches. Among the most common misinformation promoted are meat-heavy carnivore diets that emphasize red meat and organ meats—foods that have been linked to increased cancer risk by scientific research.

Other problematic dietary regimens pushed by these accounts include ketogenic or low-carb diets without proper medical oversight, and the consumption of raw milk, which has been repeatedly debunked by health authorities, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, for its potential dangers.

“Nutrition is complex but it doesn’t have to be confusing,” explained Alice Millbank, co-founder and chief scientific officer at Rooted Research. “Super-spreaders exploit that confusion by offering dangerously simple answers dressed up as hacks, often driven by profit, not science.”

The research team identified several common archetypes among these health misinformation influencers. Some fabricate medical credentials to appear authoritative, while others build their following by spreading anti-establishment conspiracy theories. A particularly concerning group leverages sophisticated marketing techniques to sell products and extreme dietary approaches to unsuspecting consumers.

Though 87 percent of these influencers lack medical degrees, approximately one in five presents themselves as a credentialed expert, further blurring the line between legitimate health advice and potentially harmful misinformation.

The timing of this report aligns with growing global concerns about the impact of misinformation. The World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Risk Report recently identified misinformation and disinformation as leading short-term risks for the second consecutive year, noting their potential to “erode trust and exacerbate divisions” in society.

Public health experts have long warned about the dangers of unregulated health advice on social media platforms, where engagement-driven algorithms can amplify extreme viewpoints regardless of their scientific validity. The consequence is a digital environment where medically unsound advice can reach millions before fact-checks or corrections can be widely disseminated.

In response to these challenges, the Rooted Research report outlines a three-pronged policy approach to combat health misinformation online. First, it calls for practical nutrition and digital literacy education to help consumers evaluate health claims critically. Second, it advocates for promoting trusted, credentialed online influencers who provide evidence-based information. Finally, it urges the enforcement of ethical guidelines to prevent the misuse of medical titles and credentials online.

Millbank emphasized the importance of meeting misinformation on its own turf with clear, evidence-based communication. “We need to begin rebuilding trust in the healthcare system,” she noted, highlighting how scientifically sound information can be communicated effectively without resorting to oversimplification or sensationalism.

As social media platforms continue to serve as primary information sources for many people, the report underscores the urgent need for collaborative efforts between health professionals, educators, policymakers, and technology companies to create safer digital spaces where accurate health information can prevail over profitable but potentially dangerous misinformation.