When searching for health advice online, prioritize information from credentialed professionals, including medical doctors (MDs and DOs), registered dietitians (RDs), registered nurses (RNs) and experts with a PhD in the field they’re posting about. According to one study published in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, about 15% of medical professionals’ social media videos contained nonfactual information compared to nearly 60% of videos from nonmedical “influencers.” Fortunately, a growing number of qualified professionals are creating a social media presence with accurate and engaging health content. “Just make sure they’re educated in the field they’re discussing—and doing the research or treating patients,” said Suzanne Devkota, PhD, director of Cedars-Sinai’s Microbiome Research Institute, who has built a loyal following from sharing engaging posts about the gut microbiome.

Even health professionals with solid credentials sometimes share misinformation. Before making a big change, adopting a new diet or popping a “life-changing” supplement, do your homework. Trustworthy creators back up their claims with science. Search PubMed (pubmed.gov/) for peer-reviewed studies on the topic and cross-check health information with reliable sources like the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and disease-specific health associations such as the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association.

Watch out for claims that sound too good to be true. Phrases like “the secret to ending menopausal symptoms” or “the only diet you’ll ever need” should sound alarm bells. “Words like ‘always,’ ‘never’ or ‘this will cure you’ are huge red flags,” said DeDecker. Credible sources use measured terms like “may help” or “may support” rather than sensational buzzwords like “miracle cure” or “guaranteed results.” Also, carefully consider the credentials of sources pushing “health-promoting products” (think raw milk, bovine colostrum and sea moss gel) or selling supplements, devices and tools. “Personal stories and testimonials can be convincing, but they’re not science,” said Kimberly Dike, MD, a gastroenterologist at Cedars-Sinai. “Often, they’re only showing one snapshot of a larger story.”

If you’re already dealing with health concerns, social media can worsen your anxiety. The more you click on cancer-related stories, for example, the more your feed will serve you similar content. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are flooded with misinformation and targeted ads based on your clicks. But you can also make the algorithms work for you by consuming credible content. “When you dedicate even a small portion of your social media diet to consuming evidence-based health content by following and viewing credible sources, your feeds may naturally begin to weed out misinformation,” said Dr. Dike.