Social media posts by influencers about medical tests are often “misleading” and could potentially lead to overdiagnosis, unnecessary treatments, and negative effects on patients’ mental health, according to recent research findings.

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A new study reveals that influencers’ posts on Instagram and TikTok about certain medical tests are often misleading, potentially risking the overdiagnosis of medical conditions.

The study examined over 900 posts on Instagram and TikTok from users with more than 1,000 followers, focusing on content about five controversial medical tests, such as full-body MRI scans and genetic testing for cancer.

According to Dr Brooke Nickel and Dr Ray Moynihan, the researchers from the University of Sydney and Bond University, respectively, the majority of these posts were misleading. Many were promotional, yet only a small fraction mentioned scientific evidence supporting the tests.

Promoting unnecessary health tests can lead to “overdiagnosis,” where individuals are diagnosed with a condition that would not have caused harm, often based on weak science.

Nothing in the social media posts mentioned the risk of overtesting or overdiagnosis. Such results showcase social media as a hub for medical misinformation, indicating a public health crisis that can strain health systems and cause unnecessary medical treatments to patients. This misinformation is especially concerning as influencers often have ties to the tests they promote. Only posts from medical professionals tended to be less promotional and more likely to discuss potential risks.

These findings highlight the urgent need for stricter regulatory measures to tackle the spread of misleading medical information on social media platforms.

Source: https://www.euronews.com/health/2025/03/03/public-health-crisis-posts-about-medical-tests-on-social-media-overwhelmingly-misleading