Experts have warned that you should be careful if you plan to share health information in
Controlling what you post is an important step incombating medical misinformation. MedicalXpress has listed five questions to ask yourself before writing about health on social media.
- Is the source reliable?
“Open a new window and see what other people are saying about the source,” the scientists advise. Often people spread some information without even thinking about where it came from.
- Is this a personal story?
Experts warn that personal stories are powerful and compelling, but they're often one-time events that don't say how common something really is.
- Do I experience strong emotions from this?
Things that evoke strong emotions in you are often not entirely true. This is a signal to think and check the facts.
- Do I really need to post this right now?
Strong emotions can create a sense of urgency. When this happens, experts say it's best to pause, take a deep breath, and wait a few hours before sharing.
- Can I really hurt someone?
Sharing medical misinformation can cause confusion, sow distrust, harm people's health, and undermine public health efforts.