Is social media and influencer culture hijacking our health?
Millions of us turn to social media for health and wellness advice. From suncream to contraception, vaccines to diets, wellness influencers share unregulated content that spans all aspects of our physical and mental health. While some post helpful information, others promote unproven treatments, misleading claims and conspiracy theories that can have significant, even fatal, consequences.
As health misinformation continues to spread across Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, there is a growing number of health and wellbeing professionals using social media to challenge false claims and provide evidence-based advice. But what are social media platforming doing to stop harmful content from spreading?
Join doctor and former Traitors contestant Kasim Ahmed, sex and relationship educator Milly Evans, researcher and podcast host Rachael Kent and investigative researcher in online harms Cécile Simmons to explore how social media helps and harms our health, how we can distinguish between fact and fad and what can be done to stop influencers from hijacking our health.
About the speakers
Kasim Ahmed is an NHS doctor, specialising in Geriatric Medicine and General Internal Medicine. He came to public attention as ‘Faithful Kas’ in series three of The Traitors on BBC One. He regularly appears on TV, radio and social media to share his medical expertise.
Rachael Kent is a Senior Lecture in Digital Economy and Society (King’s College London) and a leading voice on the impact of digital technology on health. She is a digital health consultant, author, and host of the Digital Health Diagnosed: Your Dose of Tech Wellbeing podcast.
Cécile Simmons is an expert researcher on online influence, mis- and disinformation and digital literacy. She has written widely about wellness misinformation, conspiracy theories and online subcultures. Her first book CTRL HATE DELETE is an exploration of how the Manosphere has moved from the fringes of the Internet into the mainstream.
Milly Evans is an award-winning sex and relationships educator, content creator and author of HONEST: Everything They Don’t Tell You About Sex, Relationships and Bodies. With half a million followers across platforms, Milly advocates for comprehensive, inclusive Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) in England and has appeared in digital and broadcast media including Channel 4, the BBC and The Guardian.
