Large-scale disinformation by health influencers, doctors sound the alarm en masse: ‘Life-threatening’

Doctors sound the alarm because health influencers that spread disinformation. Outgoing State Secretary for Health Maarten van Ooijen would like to talk to these doctors to ensure that people are better informed. “I would like to see how they can expand their work so that we can combat this form of disinformation en masse.”

A group of doctors contradicts these influencers via TikTok and tries to protect people from incorrect information. Van Ooijen emphasizes in Good Morning Netherlands on NPO 1 that fake information about health is a serious problem with potentially major consequences. “There are a lot health influencers who are mainly concerned with keeping their own commercial affairs afloat. Not to provide the correct information.”

He hopes to bring this subject to the attention of a wide audience. “I would like to say to anyone who ever has doubts about vaccinations or medicines: go to your own doctor. They can give you the information you are looking for. That is much better than searching on the internet yourself.”

Algorithm bubble

Not only young people, but also adults appear to be sensitive to this form of disinformation. De Telegraaf writes that influencers can, for example, tell you that you have a vitamin or iron deficiency. You will then immediately be referred to order supplements on their site to supplement your ‘deficiencies’.

Are you already receiving our free WNL newsletter? Register here and don’t miss anything!

You can also learn a lot about new contraceptive methods on online platforms such as Instagram, where it is often advised not to take the pill. All this medical advice can have serious consequences for viewers who end up in this algorithm bubble, including unwanted pregnancies.

Life-threatening problem

The group of doctors who sound the alarm even call this problem life-threatening. “It is not something that only doctors can solve,” says GP Stefan van Rooijen to L1. “We are happy to contribute with our new channel on TikTok, but the ministry, companies and influencers will also have to take responsibility.”

With eight doctors, ranging from a pulmonologist to a cardiologist, misinformation is contradicted where possible. “We really want to give people the right information,” said the GP. He mentions a poignant example. “I advised a woman who had an infection to take antibiotics. She had only seen online that antibiotics were bad for you. She didn’t take it either and trusted her body.”

With all its consequences. “The inflammation has entered her bloodstream, causing her to go into septic shock due to blood poisoning. She ended up in intensive care, but luckily she survived. It could have easily turned out worse,” warns Van Rooijen.

One hundred years of science in the trash

Member of Parliament of D66 Jan Paternotte, also a guest in the studio, praises the work of these doctors. “For example, if you look at vaccinations. People are saying en masse that they don’t have to do that anymore. You are actually turning back a hundred years of science, which even kills babies. You can’t do enough about this.”

Cybersecurity expert Inge Bryan states that enforcing a ban on disinformation is extremely difficult. “We live in a world where information is free. That is a great thing, but there is now so much information that many people have difficulty determining what to believe in.”

According to Bryan, this is partly because “the authorities are less believed”. “Then it is important, whatever these doctors do, that that informal authority says sensible things.”

Also read: