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Unlike regulated healthcare professionals, many online influencers have no medical training (Photo: Gemini)
When you develop a headache, skin rash or stomach upset, what is the first thing you do? Increasingly, the answer is not to visit a health facility but to reach for a smartphone.
Millions of people now seek health advice from social media platforms, online influencers and more recently, artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots. A recent CNN report highlighted a growing trend in the United States where people are placing as much trust in online personalities and AI-generated advice as they do in healthcare professionals.
AI can explain medical terms, summarise complex conditions, remind patients about medications and answer general health questions in seconds. Social media has also helped raise awareness about diseases that were once poorly understood, including infertility, cancer, diabetes and mental health. These are welcome developments.
