Medical disinformation reaches billions via social media

A report by Wrocław Medical University and Mediaboard reveals a massive surge in medical disinformation. Between early 2025 and mid-May 2026, over 347,000 posts regarding medical fake news were identified on social media, while traditional media saw more than 32,000 publications. The combined reach of these messages is estimated in the billions.

Anti-vaccination narratives constitute the largest segment of this disinformation at 54 percent, often questioning vaccine safety or linking them to chronic illnesses. Another 23 percent of the content focuses on dietary theories, such as extreme vitamin doses, fasting, or ‘body acidification’ as cures for complex health issues.

YouTube is the primary platform for this content, accounting for 54.2 percent of social media posts, followed by Facebook at 39.5 percent. Experts warn that the development of artificial intelligence may exacerbate the problem by making it easier to create professional-looking medical advice and fake medical authorities.