Your Health Today
More Americans Turn to Social Media and AI for Health Answers, and Experts Say That's Risky
More people are turning to social media and AI chatbots when a health question comes up, and a new study says that habit is starting to shape real medical decisions.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that nearly 88% of U.S. adults surveyed use social media, and about 85% of those users have shared general or personal health information online. What stood out most to researchers, though, was how many people act on what they see.
"I think the biggest surprise that we found is that one in five people are actually making health related decisions based on what they saw on social media," said Rohan Khera, an associate professor at Yale University and a senior author of the study.
That's despite the fact that most people don't fully trust the content. About 78% of social media users said they believed health information on the platform was false or misleading, but many still let it guide their choices.
Khera says part of the problem is that convincing content isn't the same as accurate content. "It is so much easier as generative AI, like chatbots, have become around. You can make graphics, you can make images about anything, and that might be completely fake information," he said. "And then I think the other problem is there are people online whose entire revenue stream is the number of clicks they have."
AI chatbots aren't all bad, Khera says. They can help people understand medical terms or prepare questions before a doctor's visit. However, he warns the answer someone gets can depend on how they phrase the question, and a chatbot may miss warning signs a real doctor would catch.
"It will not keep helping you navigate to the highest risk conditions first, because it's not a triage tool," Khera said. "It's a personal assistant meant to have a conversation with you."
By: CNN Newsource
August 19, 2026
Latest Instagram Posts
The midterms inch closer and the prices get higher
The hiring of interim City Manager Jim Vanderpool is drawing criticism online over allegations of previous homophobic remarks and harassment. Vanderpool is pushing back, saying the complaint at the center of the controversy was misinterpreted. Be sure to visit nbcpalmsprings.com for the full report #palmsprings #lgbtqcommunity #coachellavalley #localnews #760
🦷🇺🇸 George Washington’s teeth had a story of their own… and trust us, it’s WILD. 😂👀 Forget the cherry tree—this is the history lesson nobody saw coming! 🍒🤯 Would YOU want to know the truth? 👇😂 🎭 Catch the laughs with Mann on the Aisle! #MannOnTheAisle #GeorgeWashington #WeirdHistory #HistoryFacts #comedytheatre
As Palm Springs Pride organizers prepare for the annual celebration, one local organization is questioning the reasons why they won’t be allowed to participate. Our @newsbyalondra has the full story in the 5,6 and 11 p.m newscast.
The Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce is holding three city council candidate forums ahead of the November Election. Be sure to visit nbcpalmsprings.com to hear from the President of the Chamber of Commerce who breaks down what residents should know about what they can expect from these forums. #coachellavalley #elections2026 #localnews #citycouncil #candidateforum
Small mistake or a matter of transparency? What’s your take? Drop a comment below 👇 #therogginreport #coachellavalley #desertrecreationdistrict #localnews #nbcpalmsprings
Engineering students craft a robot that takes down a 4x4 Rubik's Cube in less than 10-seconds.
Watch a gargantuan, 5.7-mile-long train nab a world record as it disappears over the horizon!
☕️ Social Time with Thalia & Jerry. Do you do yoga?
When we took a closer look at the Desert Recreation District, the numbers and details just didn’t line up. What are your thoughts on this? Drop your take in the comments👇 #therogginreport #coachellavalley #localnews #desertrecreationdistrict #nbcpalmsprings