Amidst a flood of health information, learn five strategies to discern fact from misinformation, provided by a reputable science influencer.
New and Improved Chasing Down Misinformation
Hey there! No nonsense here; let's dive right into the world of health myths and misinformation with Dr. Sanjay Gupta on his podcast, Chasing Life.
(Hear from the horse's mouth by tuning in 🎧)
In the real world, we all bump into dodgy health claims, be it on traditional media or social networks. Claims about the rising measles outbreak, no efficacy of certain vaccines, or magical supplements abound. Enter self-proclaimed health gurus and alarmists, peddling cures and conspiracies to gather attention.
With the pandemic ramping up confusion, it's no surprise medical misinformation skyrocketed, with a few of the Trump administration's polarizing nominations and confirmations to top public health posts adding more disdain.
Laurel Bristow, an infectious disease researcher from Emory University, took a stand against health misinformation during the pandemic. Prior to her impressive scientific work, her Instagram account – onceCalled KingGutterBaby – was dedicated to nipping rampant myths and conspiracy theories in the bud.
"I'd be stuck at the hospital all day, and then head home to set up my tripod and record videos," Bristow recently shared with Dr. Sanjay Gupta on the podcast. "It felt important. I knew a lot about the virus and infectious diseases, and I wanted to help others understand it too," she explained. "This gave me a sense of control in the face of all the fear and uncertainty."
Bristow called information essential. "It isn't necessarily less scary, but it's less anxiety-inducing," she added. "People can feel a bit more in control with accurate information."
Nowadays, Bristow still fights the good fight in infectious diseases as the associate program director for the Emory/Georgia Tuberculosis Research Advancement Center. But she's not merely confined to the lab; she's also the host of "Health Wanted," a health podcast on Atlanta's NPR affiliate, WABE.
Despite taking a break from her crusade against misinformation, Bristow remains diligent in her mission to bust fake health claims on social media and her not-so-colorful new Instagram account. "I told myself I'd be free from it all after five years, but I can't turn my back on the cause," she confessed. "I'm passionate about providing accurate information and giving people the power to make informed decisions for themselves and their families."
(Tune in to the podcast's full episode 🎧)
Now that we know who Bristow is, let's take a gander at her five tips to help you spot health misinformation and weigh the credibility of claims.
1 - Not everything you read, hear, or watch is a gospel truth.
"If something appears too good or bad to be real, it probably isn't," Bristow noted, warning against the increasing tendency to fill legitimate knowledge gaps with mere speculation.
Even established facts are finding their way to the back burner, getting replaced with hysterical claims and conspiracies. "People should be encouraged to think skeptically before accepting information," she advised.
2 - Don't let black-and-white thinking cloud your judgment.
"Science rarely addresses problems in absolutes," Bristow pointed out. "Offering a cure-all or a death sentence is too simple."
Questions to mull over include: Are the limits of knowledge correctly outlined? Is the level of risk contextualized? Is the information source transparent about their qualifications? Raising a red flag for non-transparent 'experts.'
3 - Don't let your emotions steamroll your critical thinking.
"Emotional appeals make for great engagement," Bristow acknowledged. "But be wary of alarming, exaggerated claims or danger alerts."
Press pause, investigate for facts based on large, well-designed studies, and steer clear of anecdotal experiences.
4 - Watch out for sales pitches.
"When someone is putting forth a new problem AND offers a product to solve it, sound the alarm bells," Bristow urged.
"Delve deeper into its origins; does the information source have conflicts of interest due to funding or affiliations?" If yes, be selective about buying into the solution.
5 - Seek the experts.
"Find trustworthy science communicators and see what they have to say about pressing issues," Bristow suggested. "They'll help you distinguish the wheat from the chaff."
Spotting bad science early and addressing it can make a significant impact.
We hope these five tips empower you to separate fact from fiction. Catch the full episode 🎧.
Stay tuned for the next installment of the Chasing Life podcast.
(Disclaimer: Grace Walker of CNN Audio provided valuable assistance in compiling this piece.)
- Dr. Sanjay Gupta's podcast, Chasing Life, discussions have highlighted the rise of untrue health claims related to supplements, vaccines, and the current outbreaks, often peddled by self-proclaimed health gurus.
- Laurel Bristow, an infectious disease researcher and podcaster, stressed the importance of debunking health misinformation, highlighting her approach to fight rampant myths and conspiracies on social media and her podcast.
- To combat health misinformation, Bristow offers five tips: firstly, be skeptical of information and avoid accepting anything that seems too good or bad to be true; secondly, recognize that science rarely presents problems in absolute terms and question if the risks and limits of knowledge are contextualized; thirdly, be mindful of emotional appeals, as alarming claims or danger alerts can often be misleading; fourthly, be wary of sales pitches that offer solutions to problems, as they may have conflicts of interest; lastly, seek out the advice of experts to help you distinguish between good and bad science.
