Health misinformation on social media could lead to a ‘sicker UK’, experts warn
How misinformation is ‘reversing decades of progress’
- Experts warn of a significant increase in false and misleading health advice online and from AI tools, which poses risks to individual lives and could lead to a less healthy UK population.
- The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) highlights misinformation regarding childhood vaccinations, reproductive health, and diet, noting that such content persuades people to avoid proven treatments.
- The spread of misinformation has led to a decline in vital vaccine uptake, with none of England's main childhood vaccines reaching the 95 per cent herd immunity target in 2024-2025.
- Professor Liam Smeeth of LSHTM states that people are increasingly seeking health advice from social media and AI rather than trusted sources like the NHS or GPs, leading to a lack of accountability.
- LSHTM experts are calling for universities, health organisations, charities, and funders to establish a new network aimed at combating dangerous health misinformation and rebuilding public trust in reliable health information.