US adults and Europeans increasingly rely on social media and AI for health decisions

A recent JAMA Network study surveyed over 7,000 American adults and found that about 20% make health decisions based on content seen on social media, even though roughly 80% consider such information false or misleading. The tendency is strongest among those over 65 and Hispanic respondents. Around 85% of users report posting or sharing health‑related content, and 88% use social media overall, with 70% participating in online health communities.

A separate STADA Health Report shows that digital health tools are also surging in Europe. In Romania, 74% of respondents use artificial‑intelligence applications for health purposes, while 55% of Europeans overall are using AI in some capacity. The report notes growing self‑medication (94% of Europeans) and a desire for greater personal control of health, though access to mental‑health support remains limited. Trust in AI remains conditional, with many preferring human validation of AI recommendations.