Racial and Demographic Disparities in Susceptibility to Health Misinformation on Social Media: A National Survey-Based Analysis (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND More than half of Americans rely on social media for some or all of their news, including health information, despite widespread concerns about the prevalence of misinformation. OBJECTIVE To examine the racial and socio-demographic factors associated with susceptibility to health misinformation on social media. METHODS Data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS Cycle 6), conducted by the National Cancer Institute with 5041 US adults between March and November 2022, was used to explore associations between racial and sociodemographic factors (age, gender, race/ethnicity, annual household income, marital status, location) and susceptibility variables, including encounters with misleading health information on social media, difficulty in assessing information truthfulness, discussions with health providers, and making health decisions based on such information. RESULTS Over 35.61% of respondents reported encountering huge amounts of misleading health information on social media, with an additional 45% reporting seeing some amount of health misinformation. Racial disparities were evident, with non-Hispanic Blacks and non-Hispanic Asians reporting lower odds of finding deceptive information, while Hispanics and non-Hispanic Asians faced challenges in assessing the veracity of health information online. Hispanics and Asians were more likely to discuss with providers and make health decisions based on social media information. Older adults, aged 65 and above, exhibited challenges in assessing online health information, while younger adults (18-34) showed increased vulnerability to health misinformation. Additionally, income levels were linked to higher exposure, revealing complexities in decision-making and information access. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the pervasive presence of health misinformation on social media, revealing vulnerabilities across racial, age, and income groups, underscoring the need for tailored interventions.