Looking for #womenshealth information on Instagram? 4 out of 10 posts are ads
HealthThe Conversation

Looking for #womenshealth information on Instagram? 4 out of 10 posts are ads

A new study found 4 in 10 posts under #womenshealth on Instagram are ads, and only 7% of health claims link to any scientific evidence.

If you’re looking for #womenshealth on Instagram, a new study shows you’d better be prepared for lots of adverts dressed up as health advice.

The Long Sip
What happened

Researchers created a fresh Instagram account, searched #womenshealth and analysed 472 posts to see who was behind them and what they were claiming.

The detail

39% of posts were directly selling a product or service, 69% made health claims, yet only 7% cited any scientific evidence to back those claims up.

What it means

Women searching for perimenopause or hormone advice on Instagram are far more likely to encounter ads than evidence-based guidance from qualified doctors.

For you

If you search #womenshealth on Instagram, more than half the accounts posting have a financial interest, so it is worth checking credentials before acting on any advice.

Full story at The Conversation

What readers are saying

CoastalDeborah
The finding that 69 percent of posts made explicit health claims while only 7 percent referred to scientific evidence really shows why it is so easy for advertising to masquerade as medical education.
BrunswickBec
four out of ten is worse than expected.
Ritbox
seeing that alternative health professionals made up more than half of individual accounts explains why so many posts jump straight to selling a supplement.
Shebox
If you're seeing health advice on Instagram, check whether the account holder has a financial stake in what they're promoting - the study found 51% did, and that alone should make you pause before trying whatever they're selling.

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