56% of Gen Z respondents reported turning to TikTok for health and wellness information in a 2024 Zing Coach survey (Cassata, 2024). As health information becomes increasingly accessible through social media, so does medical misinformation. Yet, not every health and wellness trend lacks validity, so the question becomes: how can patients exhibit discernment while researching? Additionally, physicians must now navigate a care journey involving three voices: the physician, the patient, and social media.
In a conversation with Dr. Ahmad Shahin, a dermatology PGY-3 who graduated from Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, and Dr. Nabeel Ahmad, a dermatology PGY2 in Hershey, Pennsylvania, my co-interviewer, Caleigh Sperling, and I learned about their perspectives on social media's role in healthcare and how they navigate it clinically.
Is Social Media Knowledge Power?
The value of social media in healthcare is not immediately dismissed. Dr. Shahin explains that searching online isn't inherently harmful; acting on information without clinical guidance or consideration of the evidence can be. Both Dr. Shahin and Dr. Ahmad stressed the importance of making their patients feel heard while also meeting them where they are, noting that "most people by far are not trying to actively sabotage themselves, they're just trying their best" (Shahin, 3:15).
Dr. Shahin provided factors that could lead a patient to look to social media for answers. Visible or embarrassing conditions, rare diseases, persistent symptoms, and previous experiences of feeling dismissed can all drive patients online for solutions. While patients may have legitimate reasons for seeking information online, the information they encounter isn't always reliable.
When Healthcare Becomes Marketing
One important theme in the conversation with Dr. Shahin was that social media rewards certainty, while medicine requires nuance. He states, "Bold voices sell, especially on social media, and nuance does not sell on social media" (Shahin, 13:45). A common formula used in misleading health content consists of creating a villain, which is oftentimes physicians or the healthcare system, oversimplifying basic scientific concepts with high degrees of confidence, fearmongering, and financial incentives. Recognizing these tactics can help patients evaluate health information more critically.
The conversation with Dr. Ahmad demonstrated why this discernment matters: some viral trends have evidence, while others may be ineffective or risky. For instance, he discussed LED/red-light therapy used for acne as having some scientific support when used properly in addition to established acne treatments. However, when presented with mouth taping for snoring and improved sleep, he indicated that snoring may suggest an underlying condition such as sleep apnea, for which he recommends medical evaluation instead. Ultimately, Dr. Ahmad's insights demonstrate why discernment is necessary as viral health trends can range from practices that overlook medical concerns to scientifically supported adjuncts.
How Physicians on Social Media Navigate Misinformation
Both Dr. Shahin and Dr. Ahmad are social media creators who encounter misinformation, but neither believes that the solution is to fight fire with fire. According to Dr. Shahin, the most important thing a physician can do is to build trust with their patients and the online community by prioritizing a safe, nonjudgmental environment when addressing healthcare trends. Responding to every piece of skewed information online isn't productive, so he suggests, "slow[ing] down first. Ask people what are you trying to fix?" (Shahin, 35:45). Making patients feel heard, supported, and included helps physicians build the trust necessary to guide their care.
Physicians and patients are on the same team, pursuing the goal of advancing patient care. Social media is not the enemy in our story; when used appropriately, it can support that effort. As a pre-medical student, I found that Dr. Shahin and Dr. Ahmad's perspectives reinforced that correcting misinformation shouldn't come at the expense of patient-centered care. Social media may have become the third voice in the exam room, but the solution isn't to remove it; it's helping patients determine when it deserves to be heard.
References
Cassata, C. (2024, July 8). TikTok is the main source of health information for a third of Gen Z, survey finds. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/tiktok-main-source-health-information-gen-z
