getting information via social networks increases risky medical behavior, study finds

A survey carried out by the Descartes Foundation among 4,000 French people, sets out in figures the link between the channels used by the French to find out about medical news and their knowledge of health as well as the adoption of risky behaviors.

Finding out about medical news on social networks increases risky medical behaviors and is associated with lower health knowledge. This is what highlights a study* from the Descartes Foundation** published Thursday November 23 by franceinfo with the magazine The Express. Vaccination refusal or forgoing medical treatment appear to be the consequences of erroneous health information to which the French are exposed on the networks, specifies the Foundation.

“The proportion of poor quality information on health topics, in particular on vaccination, but not only on nutrition, on cancers, etc., is greater on social networks than it is in other information channels“, underlines Laurent Cordonnier, sociologist and director of research at the Descartes foundation, guest of franceinfo Thursday November 23.

According to this study, French people who obtain information “often” to “very often” on health topics via YouTube are 2.9 times more likely than others (29% compared to 10%) to have already given up on medical treatment. in favor of an alternative therapy. Likewise, those who use the TikTok network for information are 2.7 times more likely than others (51% compared to 19%) to have already refused a vaccine recommended for themselves and/or their children, excluding Covid -19. And the people surveyed using Telegram messaging groups to find out about health issues are twice as likely as others (26% versus 13%) to have refused the Covid-19 vaccine.

“Low health knowledge and risky medical behavior are also linked to a marked sensitivity to alternative therapies and esotericismwrites the Foundation. Such sensitivity probably constitutes a breeding ground for beliefs favorable to the development of erroneous medical conceptions.”

Among the widespread beliefs, that “according to which dark chocolate could cure serious mental disorders such as depression is a belief which is adopted by more than 50% of the population we surveyed (out of 4,000 people surveyed), notes Laurent Cordonnier, and this belief, like other false health beliefs, is correlated with the use of social networks. This is one of the pieces of information that has been circulating on social networks, which has been circulating on Facebook in particular.“

The doctor remains the first source of information

More generally, the Descartes Foundation notes that almost half of French people (42.5%) say they are “very” to “extremely” interested in health information. The vast majority of citizens even continue to favor traditional channels for information. Their doctor remains the first source, 40.2% obtain information “often” to “very often” from him. They then favor their loved ones (31.3%), and almost one in three (27.8%) get their information from the national or regional general media.

Although the share of social networks remains low in terms of information on health topics, it continues to grow. Facebook comes at the top of these channels, with 14.1% of respondents using it “often” or “very often”, ahead of YouTube (10.5%) and Instagram (9.1%).

Trust in traditional information channels

Finally, the study highlights that the French trust traditional information channels more than social networks when it comes to health. More than eight in ten (84%) “somewhat trust” or “completely trust” their doctor. Three-quarters say they are confident in their pharmacist (76.5%) and in healthcare establishments (75%). The people questioned, on the other hand, admit to a more moderate confidence in the general media (29.4%). And they give very limited credit to YouTube (10.3%) and social networks as a whole – Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok – (8.6%). Instant messaging groups, such as WhatsApp, inspire confidence in only 7.5% of French people.

To counter the effects of health misinformation, the Descartes Foundation suggests promoting the dissemination on social networks of quality health content, consistent with scientific knowledge. She pleads for this content to come in particular from influencers recognized and supported by health professionals and scientific and medical institutions, such as the National Academy of Medicine or Inserm.

*Methodology: For this study on information and health, the Descartes Foundation conducted a survey, via an online questionnaire, of 4,000 French people representative of the major metropolitan French population, carried out from July 12 to 26, 2023.

**The Descartes Foundation is a reflection and research institute which defines itself as independent and multidisciplinary dedicated to issues linked to information and public debate in the age of the Internet and social networks. It is constituted in the form of an endowment fund under French law.