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updated on
Reading 2 min.
in collaboration with
Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director)
According to a recent survey conducted in the United States, one in three young people from Gen Z (between 15 and 24 years old) relies on social networks for information on health matters. But how to recognize false information? Dr Gérald Kierzek, medical director of Doctissimo, tells us more.
To find out about their health, young men would trust social networks, as revealed by a survey carried out by the Cleveland Clinic in the United States. The survey was conducted among 1,000 Americans aged 18 and over. A third of them (33%) admit to trusting content posted on the internet and more particularly on social platforms, when it comes to health.
Social networks most used by young men
According to the results of this survey, “all generations agree that healthcare providers are a major source of health information and advice“.
But it appears that “Gen Z men are the most likely – across all generations – to turn to social media. for information on these topics. The use of social networks varies, unsurprisingly, depending on age, with less than 5% of “boomers” using this type of platform for this purpose.
The results also reveal that “87% of men worry about how their current health habits will affect their health in the future“.
While everyone can proclaim themselves a specialist and expertise is increasingly overused, how can we distinguish reliable information from fake news on social networks? We interviewed Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo, and listed the main points to watch out for:
- Check that the information is recent and up to dateparticularly for rapidly evolving health issues;
- Be wary of articles using sensationalist or alarmist language. Serious medical information is generally presented in an objective and nuanced manner;
- Look for references to scientific studies or opinions from recognized experts. The absence of credible sources is a red flag – especially when the supposed expert has a royalty-free photo that you have seen in other contexts – Don’t hesitate to check if the expert is indeed a professional health ;
- Don’t rely on just one source. Compare the information with other reputable websites or scientific publications;
- Use fact-checking sites that specialize in the medical field to confirm the veracity of the information;
- Be wary of miracle cures or simplistic solutions complex health problems;
- Be aware of your own biases and don’t only retain information that confirms your pre-existing beliefs;
Finally, know that there is Youtube Health certification, a feature recently introduced by YouTube. It allows you to distinguish health-related content that has been verified by experts. “Like Doctissimo, for example, which has this precious label!“concludes the doctor.