US Latinos increasingly rely on social media for health information

A recent Pew Research Center study indicates that nearly half of U.S. Latinos are likely to obtain health information from social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook at least occasionally. This figure is notably higher than the national average of 36 percent.

Approximately 55 percent of those surveyed believe the health information they encounter online is at least somewhat accurate. This trend includes the consumption of advice regarding natural remedies, such as using beetroot juice for blood pressure or red yeast rice for cholesterol, which are often presented without necessary medical context or warnings regarding side effects and drug interactions.

Experts suggest this reliance on social media is driven by systemic barriers to traditional healthcare. Arturo Vargas Bustamante, a professor at UCLA and director of faculty research at the Latino Policy and Politics Institute, noted that Latinos are among the demographic groups least engaged with the U.S. healthcare system. Contributing factors include high uninsured rates, with a 2026 U.S. Census Bureau study showing 17 percent of Latinos lack health insurance coverage.