How to Navigate the Social Media Scaries: GWC January 2025

As we move into a new year—and it’s only the 15th—many changes have already occurred. Some may affect you, and some may not. For those of us who use social media platforms, there are changes we need to be aware of. My goal in this issue is to help you understand how to use critical thinking skills to protect yourself from misinformation that can impact not only your physical health but also your mental health.

There are countless ways for us to receive information today, and these are not limited to social media platforms. They include legacy news media, podcasts, and even our close social circles. With the way algorithms are designed and the recent removal of fact-checking on all Meta platforms, the responsibility now falls on us to decipher what’s real versus what’s crafted for clicks, likes, and profit. It saddens and frustrates me that platforms originally built to connect us now seek to influence us in ways that serve someone else’s bottom line.

You may have heard the term "confirmation bias," but let’s clarify what it means. Confirmation bias is when we are consistently fed information that reinforces what we already believe, rather than exposing us to contradictory perspectives that might require critical thinking. This bias seeps into our everyday lives when we rely on a single news source, listen to only one broadcaster or podcast, and endlessly scroll through feeds designed to keep us engaged.

How does this relate to your mental and physical health? First, we need to distinguish between clickbait and credible, research-backed advice.

If someone presents information with lines like:

• "This will solve all your problems!"
• "Don’t trust the research studies!"
• "The study is funded by..."
• "What they’re not telling you!"
• "100% of the time..."

...my advice is to keep scrolling or block them. Science is ever-evolving, with new studies emerging constantly. For a study to be published, it must undergo multiple levels of scrutiny. While some published information may still carry biases, we often see professionals tracing a study’s funding to uncover potential conflicts of interest. Thankfully, many medical professionals and researchers now use their platforms to debunk misleading advice, helping others avoid harm.

With the rise of AI-generated content, be cautious of material that feels emotionless, lacks credentials or sources, has robotic audio, mismatched mouth movements, or makes claims that sound too good to be true. These creators are skilled at crafting hooks to grab your attention.

A fun yet time-consuming suggestion: check the person’s credentials. It angers me when someone claims to be a nutritionist, wellness expert, or health coach without any formal education to support their title. Often, they’re selling something and using these labels to gain your trust. (FYI: Supplements are not regulated and are often unnecessary if you eat a variety of whole foods.)

Here, we use testing to determine if you truly require supplementation

Here are some tips for fact-checking health advice online to ensure you’re getting accurate, science-backed information:

1. Check the Source

Look for advice from reputable organizations like the CDC, WHO, Mayo Clinic, or Johns Hopkins Medicine. Health information from personal blogs, social media influencers, or unknown websites is more likely to be unreliable.

2. Look for Peer-Reviewed Research

Reliable health claims are often backed by peer-reviewed studies from journals like The Lancet, JAMA, or Nature Medicine. Use databases like PubMed or Google Scholar to verify if a claim has scientific support.

3. Examine the Author’s Credentials

Check if the author is a licensed professional, such as a doctor (MD), registered dietitian (RD), or PhD in a related field. Beware of self-proclaimed “health experts” without formal education or certifications.

4. Beware of Clickbait Titles

Avoid health articles or videos with sensational titles like “Cure X Disease in 3 Days” or “Doctors Hate This Simple Trick.” Real health advice is usually cautious and evidence-based.

5. Check for Bias

If a video or article is promoting a product or service, be skeptical. Sponsored content may push health claims that lack strong evidence.

6. Cross-Check with Reputable Sources

Compare the information you’ve found with multiple trusted sources. If it’s a valid claim, you’ll see it reported consistently across credible sites.

7. Look for Recent Information

Health recommendations change as new research emerges. Make sure the advice is recent, especially if it involves treatments or guidelines.

Coach Jen