GPs Call Out Rising Health Misinformation Online
02 Feb 2026
Doctors report seeing more people coming to appointments with health advice they found online, which is often misleading or unsafe.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said that while patients have always sought guidance from GPs, the surge of online health content means doctors now have an even bigger role in helping people tell fact from fiction.
A University of Sydney study found that most social media posts about medical tests from influencers were misleading, with few mentioning potential risks or scientific evidence.
GP Dr Preeya Alexander said patients regularly ask about diets, supplements, and treatments they’ve seen online. “It’s important we discuss what’s real and what’s not to avoid harm,” she said.
The study also shows that teens rely heavily on social media for health information, but many struggle to know what is accurate. With the rise of AI-generated content, doctors say spotting false advice is becoming even harder.
Source: RACGP / newsGP / University of Sydney
https://www1.racgp.org.au/
