Sorting Fact from Fiction: Navigating Health Information Online

Health information is everywhere, and not all of it is accurate. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, false and misleading health claims have increased dramatically online, spreading quickly through social media, blogs, podcasts, and even professional-looking websites. These messages often succeed because they appeal to strong emotions like fear, hope, or outrage, making it harder to pause and verify before reacting or sharing.

In today’s digital landscape, learning how to navigate health information thoughtfully is an essential skill, especially as content from social media and online platforms can be misleading, incomplete, or inaccurate. Being attentive about the information we receive and evaluating sources carefully is critical to making informed health decisions for yourself and loved ones.

Misinformation vs. Disinformation

Not all false information is shared for the same reason. Misinformation is incorrect or misleading information shared without harmful intent, such as misquoted statistics or misunderstood research. Disinformation, on the other hand, is false information that is deliberately created or shared to mislead others. While the intent may differ, both can cause real harm to individual and community health.

How to Navigate Health Information Online

Rather than relying on a single checklist or source, it helps to slow down and ask three simple questions: Who? What and how? Why? This approach, used by public health professionals, can also be useful for everyday decision-making.

Who is the source?

Start by identifying who is behind the information. Is it an individual, organization, or agency? Credentials and titles alone aren’t always reliable indicators of accuracy. Consider whether the author has relevant expertise, whether the organization is accountable to the public, and whether any conflicts of interest are clearly disclosed. 

Even trusted institutions aren’t immune to mistakes or shifting narratives. It’s important to remember that no single source, including government, media, or otherwise, has a monopoly on truth. Public health recommendations can be influenced by politics, limited data, or evolving priorities, so it’s worth taking time to review the underlying evidence yourself. When guidance changes or feels inconsistent, focus on the data behind the message rather than who is saying it. Seeking multiple, independent perspectives and paying attention to transparency about limitations or uncertainty can help you make sense of complex or conflicting information.

What is being said and how?

Many misleading health claims reference real studies or data. The issue is often not that research is fake, but that it is misinterpreted, overstated, or taken out of context. Be cautious if a claim:

• Treats a single study as definitive proof
• Relies on small studies, animal research, or early findings without explaining limitations
• Uses absolute or sensational language
• Leans heavily on personal anecdotes instead of broader evidence
• Claims to have “the only answer” or to reveal something others are hiding

Reliable health information is usually supported by multiple independent experts or organizations and acknowledges uncertainty when the science is still evolving. Websites like the Johns Hopkins Medicine, National Academy of Medicine, Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Your Local Epidemiologist, HealthyChildren.org, and the World Health Organization, or fact-checking platforms are science-based sources that can help you cross-check health information. 

Why is this information being shared?

Understanding motivation matters. Ask yourself what the source gains by sharing this message. Is there a product to sell, a political goal, or a call to action that benefits the messenger? Transparency about funding, affiliations, and purpose is a strong signal of trustworthiness.

Using AI for Health Information

Artificial intelligence tools, like chatbots and search assistants, are becoming a common way people look up health information. These tools can be helpful for summarizing topics, explaining medical terms, or generating questions to ask a healthcare provider. However, AI is not a medical expert and should not be treated as a trusted source.

AI systems generate responses based on patterns in existing information, which means they can:

• Reflect outdated or incomplete data
• Misinterpret research findings
• Present incorrect information confidently
• Repeat misinformation that exists online

If you use AI to explore health questions, it’s important to fact-check the results just as you would information from social media or a website. Look for confirmation from credible, independent public health or medical organizations. Use AI as a starting point, not a final answer, and look for confirmation from credible, independent public health or medical organizations.

When Health Information Feels Alarming

Beyond how information is framed, emotion itself plays a powerful role in how misinformation spreads. Content that feels shocking or frightening can be especially hard to ignore, even when it represents an uncommon outcome rather than a typical one.

If you encounter health information that feels alarming, consider slowing down and asking:

• Is this being presented as common or inevitable without context? Online content sometimes highlights extreme cases without explaining how rare they actually are.
• Who is delivering the message? Distinguish between individuals with relevant health or scientific expertise and those whose platforms are built around lifestyle branding or wellness trends.
• Is there a financial incentive attached? Be mindful of messages linked to product sales, affiliate links, or paid programs. The wellness industry is a massive marketplace, and skepticism of conventional medicine is sometimes used to market alternatives.
• How does this compare with established guidance? When claims sharply diverge from recommendations shared by multiple medical and public health organizations, that’s a signal to pause and verify before accepting or sharing the information.

Taking a moment to step back from emotionally charged claims can help reduce the spread of misinformation and support more thoughtful health decisions. Be cautious of websites or influencers that sell a product tied to their claims, rely on personal anecdotes instead of research, or use urgent, emotional language to push you toward a decision.

Why This Matters for Public Health

Health misinformation and disinformation undermine public trust and can influence health behaviors in ways that put individuals and communities at risk. During the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread false information contributed to vaccine hesitancy, treatment refusal, and poorer health outcomes. These effects ripple outward, shaping policy decisions, funding priorities, and long-term community wellbeing.

Share Responsibly

Sharing responsibly is just as important as reading critically. Before passing along health information, take a moment to verify it and consider its potential impact. If you encounter misinformation, resist the urge to argue or amplify it. Instead, share correct information from credible sources and invite open, respectful conversation. Helping others recognize what trustworthy health information looks like strengthens community resilience, and supports better health decisions for everyone.