'Debunking Fake News Requires a Colossal Effort': Doctors on a Crusade Against Fake News on Social Media
Some medical professionals are mobilizing and becoming content creators themselves on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and X to combat false information circulating there. But given the scale of the phenomenon, they are calling for more support.
A wart-eating praying mantis, egg whites for burns, a rosemary serum that cures baldness, raw garlic against pimples or even flaxseed gel to get rid of wrinkles...
While false information about health issues has always existed, it has truly exploded since COVID-19. And with the rise of social media, it is gaining more and more visibility. The figures are quite telling. Fake news accounts for up to 51% of posts about vaccines and 60% of content related to pandemics, according to a 2022 WHO study. On YouTube, 20% to 30% of videos on emerging infectious diseases contain similarly inaccurate or misleading information.
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But in this jungle of fake news, a growing number of doctors are mobilizing and speaking out to sort out fact from fiction. They do this in an educational manner, adapted to the standards of digital platforms and above all by providing reliable, scientifically proven recommendations.
According to various sources, nearly a hundred professionals are on the front lines of hunting down…
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