UQ Wellness Magazine - MAY 26 - Flipbook - Page 22
The Rise of Health Trends on Social Media
Viral health advice is often linked to
misinformation. Anyone can share wellness
tips or mental health hacks, regardless of
quali昀椀cations. A 2021 BMJ study found that
health misinformation spreads more rapidly
than accurate medical information. For popular
health hashtags analysed in that year, only a
small proportion of creators held professional
quali昀椀cations, and very few disclosed
sponsored content. Alarmingly, the vast
majority of supplement related videos lacked
scienti昀椀c evidence.
The American Psychological Association reports
that misinformation about medical care has
caused confusion and, in some cases, premature
death. Seeking advice from accredited health
professionals remains the safest option.
Social Media and Health Recovery
The risks of unveri昀椀ed health advice are well
documented. One prominent example involved
content creator Belle Gibson, who falsely
claimed to have cured cancer through natural
therapies. This case highlighted how social
media trends can divert people away from
evidence based healthcare, sometimes
with serious consequences.
Who Uses Social Media
the Most
Younger Australians are the most engaged
social media users. According to Sprout
Social, Gen Z spends over 10 hours per week on
social platforms, followed by Millennials and Gen
X. While common, excessive use is not without
consequences.
Harvard Health reports that doomscrolling
can contribute to physical issues such as sleep
disruption and increased blood pressure, as well
as mental fatigue, reduced focus at work, and
heightened anxiety.
