Study believes that influencers promote ‘overwhelming’ misleading information about social media medical tests

Influencers promote “overwhelming” misleading information about medical tests on Instagram and Tiktok, according to a study published by the global University of Sydney-conducted study in Jama Network Open.

Researchers analyzed nearly 1,000 reports about five controversial medical screening tests that were promoted by influencers from social media to nearly 200 million followers. They discovered that most messages had no reference to scientific evidence, promotional were, had explicit financial interests and had no possible damage to mentioning.

The tests include full-body MRI scans; genetic tests that claim to identify early signs of 50 cancers; Blood tests for testosterone levels; The Anti -Mullerian hormone (AMH) test that investigates the eggtelling of a woman; And the intestinal microbioma test. Experts say that these tests have limited evidence of benefits in healthy people and can lead to overdiagnosis and excessive use.

“The vast majority of these messages was overwhelmingly misleading,” said Dr. Brooke Nickel, who led the research from the Faculty of Medicine and Health’s School of Public Health.

“They are promoted under the guise of early screening, as a way to take control of your own health. The problem is that they are not necessary for most people and in some cases the science that supports their activity,” said Dr. Nickel.

The study showed that 85% of the messages did not mention tests or risks. “These tests have the potential for healthy people to receive unnecessary diagnoses, which could lead to unnecessary medical treatments or influence mental health,” Dr. Nickel.

“An example is the ‘egg -timer’ or AMH test. It is strongly marketed by influencers as a way to measure fertility, but experts do not consider it reliable. There is the concern that a low result has been discovered outside the context of a specific medical problem, some women can bring them to unnecessary, precious fertility interventions,” them.

“Another example is the testosterone test, often put on the market to men who use anxiety-lubricating tactics to then promote testosterone supplements that claim to improve masculinity and sexual performance. This is risky because the safety in the long term of testosterone replacement therapy on cardiovascular health and mortality is still struck.

“One of the underlying themes used by influencers promoting these tests is that knowledge is power, but most information is chosen by cherries. When it comes to health, the full image is so important, and half truths are often lies.”

Among the 982 messages on Instagram and Tiktok:

• 87% mentioned the benefits of the tests, but only 15% mentioned potential damage;
• Only 6% mentioned the risk of overdiagnosis or over treatment;
• Only 6% mentioned scientific evidence, while 34% used personal anecdotes to promote the test;
• 68% of influencers and other account holders had financial interests in promoting the test (eg partnership, cooperation, sponsorship or sales in one way or another for their own profit).

Co-investigator Dr. Ray Moynihan, an honorary university teacher at Bond University, said: “These findings suggest that social media are an open sewer of medical wrong information.

“This is a crisis in public health that worsens overdiagnosis and threatens the sustainability of health systems.”

A detailed analysis of the results showed that messages from doctors, messages that state scientific evidence, and messages from influencers without financial interest in the tests, were generally more balanced.

The research group is currently investigating ways to better regulate this kind of misleading medical information on social media.

“In view of the fact that social media platforms such as Instagram leave from checking their content, the need for stronger regulations to prevent misleading medical information has been given urgency,” said Dr. Josh Zadro, senior researcher and co-author at the University of Sydney.

Five common controversial tests in Instagram and Tiktok – messages

Full-body MRI scan: claimed to test for a maximum of 500 conditions, but no proof of benefits for healthy people, while real dangers exist of unnecessary diagnoses and over treatment.

Multi cancer early detection tests: claimed to screen for more than 50 cancers, but there are still clinical tests underway. For the time being there is no evidence that the benefits of screening healthy populations outweigh the damage of unnecessary cancer diagnoses.

AMH or “Egg-timer” test: Although favorable for certain women, this test is falsely promoted to healthy women as a test for fertility, with worries, the results can lead to unnecessary, precious fertility treatments.

Dut Microbiome test: Test promises “well -being” through early detection of many disorders – from flatulence to depression – without good evidence of benefits, in addition to ensuring that test results can lead to medical excessive use, causing damage and waste.

Testosterone test: no proof of benefit for testing healthy men, but the danger of excessive use of treatments; Long -term safety of testosterone therapy, with regard to unfavorable cardiovascular events and early death, has not yet been established.