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Study Reveals Social Media's Impact on Health Decisions Among Americans

KVIA•Thursday, July 9, 2026 at 1:00 PM•CNN Newsource

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AI Summary

A recent study published in JAMA highlights that over 20% of U.S. adults using social media have made health decisions based on information found online. This translates to approximately 47 million individuals influenced by social media for health-related choices. While social media offers quick and accessible health information, nearly 78% of users express skepticism about its accuracy. The study, which surveyed over 7,270 adults, indicates that both healthy individuals and those with chronic conditions rely on these platforms for health insights. Experts caution that misinformation can spread easily, and users should critically evaluate the sources of health information they encounter online.

Key Details: • Over 20% of social media users made health decisions based on online information. • Approximately 47 million Americans are influenced by social media for health choices. • 78% of users believe health information on social media is often false or misleading. • The study analyzed responses from over 7,270 adults, representing 262 million U.S. adults. • Users should critically assess the reliability of health information found on social media.

health public-health social-media misinformation study

People & Organizations

Dr. Leana WenJAMAUS National Cancer Institute

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