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Tag: misinformation

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Commentary

Fluoridation in U.S. Public Water Supplies: History, Science, and Debunking Myths

Community water fluoridation in the United States is a public health policy with a remarkable legacy – praised as a milestone in preventive medicine and credited with dramatically reducing dental decay, yet persistently targeted by conspiracy theories and misinformation. For over 75 years, public health and dental professionals have advocated adjusting fluoride levels in drinking […]

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Social media analysis

Social Media’s Health Marketing Trap: What’s at Stake?

A high school student scrolls through her social media feed. Between photos of friends and trending memes, a post catches her eye: a new herbal supplement that claims to boost fitness without exercise. Intrigued, she clicks the link, influenced by the influencer’s perfect physique and accessible tips. How Digital Misinformation is Shaping Health Decisions In […]

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Environment

Inside the Hidden Architecture of Health Misinformation

When a cholera outbreak hit a coastal city last year, nurse Laila A. found herself battling two epidemics at once—disease and disinformation. As she rushed between patients, she fielded messages from neighbors claiming vaccines were tainted and that hospitals were hiding deaths. The official hotline had accurate information, but no one trusted it. “People weren’t […]

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Communication

Misinformation as a Social Determinant of Health

We spent a while recounting APHA last week. However, there’s a specific trend we wanted to explore in more depth: misinformation. Misinformation has become a fundamental force that directly impacts health outcomes. Traditionally, social determinants of health (SDOH) focus on people’s living, working, and aging conditions, but emerging research, including new findings presented at the […]

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Analytics

Most COVID-19 Tweets Linked to Low-Quality Info

March 2020: the world was locking down, and millions of people opened Twitter for answers. What they found was a storm—data dashboards, rumors, home remedies, and official updates jumbled together. Amid that digital noise, how many sources were actually credible? A new study from Concordia University’s Rozita Haghighi and Mohsen Farhadloo answers that question with […]

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AI

The AI-Driven Infodemic Threatening Public Health

A few years ago, “publish or perish” was an academic cliché. Today, it’s being supercharged by machines. Since ChatGPT burst into the scene in late 2022, artificial intelligence has infiltrated nearly every corner of science—writing, reviewing, and even summarizing research papers. The result? A flood of AI-generated studies that could overwhelm even the most diligent […]

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AI

AI Cannot Stop Misinformation Alone

You’re scrolling through your feed. A friend posts a study showing the safety of vaccines. Right below it, another post claims vaccines cause long-term harm, backed by a slick video and emotional testimonials. (I was actually doing this on an HHS post a few days ago) You click on the study. It’s full of stats, […]

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Communication

The Misinformation Dilemma: Separating Fact from Fear

Misinformation is often blamed for many of today’s most pressing social and political issues. From election interference to vaccine hesitancy, alarmist narratives claim that false information is flooding the internet, shaping public opinion, and altering behaviors. But is misinformation really as rampant and influential as we’ve been led to believe? According to a growing body […]

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Research

Demystifying Cancer Myths: A Canadian Perspective

In a recent study titled “Canadians’ knowledge of cancer risk factors and belief in cancer myths“, researchers delve into the understanding Canadians have about cancer risk factors and the prevalence of cancer myths. The study, conducted through an online survey, gathered responses from 734 Canadians, focusing on their ability to distinguish between established cancer risk […]

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Commentary

Combating COVID Misinformation – the WHO and HOW.

Over the past week, a few pieces of information have been stuck in my head. The first is that nearly 99% of all COVID deaths in the United States are occurring in the unvaccinated. To put it bluntly, this is bonkers. We have an evidence-based, cost-effective, widely accessible method to prevent death by COVID. People […]

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