Health misinformation took center stage during the Covid-19 pandemic and continues to run rampant online. Falsehoods about evidence-based cancer treatments, birth control, and other forms of medical care have caused confusion, conflict, and premature death (Gisondi, M. A., et al., Journal of Medical Internet Research, Vol. 24, No. 2, 2022). Despite the growing threat to global health, social media companies have backtracked on promises to police misinformation on their platforms (Big Tech Backslide, Free Press, 2023).
That has left users—especially young people, who frequently encounter antiscience views online—vulnerable to being deceived. When they try to verify information, they often land on more inaccuracies (Aslett, K., et al., Nature, Vol. 625, 2024). Turning to authority figures for clarity can also backfire: In February, Florida’s surgeon general shared advice that contradicted medical knowledge about measles.
“Many laypeople are just not familiar with how knowledge is produced in science and medicine, so these concepts can feel very abstract,” which is why research-backed health communication is so important, said Kurt Sampsel, PhD, the senior program manager for disinformation and community engagement at PEN America, a nonprofit organization focused on protecting free expression. (author introduction)