Social media platforms give allergy and bronchial asthma sufferers a voice however additionally they amplify misinformation, and the most well-liked posts are sometimes not essentially the most correct.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways:
- Social Media Misinformation: Research introduced at ACAAI 2025 reveal that well being misinformation about allergic reactions and bronchial asthma is widespread on social media, with the most well-liked posts typically being the least correct.
- Alpha-gal Syndrome Findings: An evaluation of #alphagal movies confirmed that solely 15% had been physician-made, but these movies acquired essentially the most engagement—highlighting a possibility for allergists to fight misinformation by means of credible, participating content material.
- Bronchial asthma Misinformation on TikTok: Amongst high #bronchial asthma movies, over one in 4 contained false or deceptive claims, which drew 3 times extra likes than correct posts—underscoring the pressing want for extra knowledgeable voices on-line to information protected, evidence-based care.
From uncommon tick-borne meat allergy to on a regular basis bronchial asthma, tens of millions of individuals flip to social media for well being recommendation. However new analysis being introduced at ACAAI 2025 revealed that whereas these platforms give sufferers a voice, additionally they amplify misinformation – and posts that get essentially the most consideration are sometimes not essentially the most correct.
One examine checked out social media movies about alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), a rising situation attributable to Lone Star tick bites that may set off extreme allergic reactions to meat. Researchers analyzed the highest 100 movies beneath the hashtag “alphagal” and located that solely 15 had been created by physicians – and a lot of the docs weren’t allergists. Regardless of this, physician-made movies acquired extra likes and feedback than these from non-physicians, which tended to be shorter and anecdotal. The findings spotlight the potential energy of allergists to share correct, relatable info in an area the place sufferers are keen to have interaction.
“Alpha-gal is complicated for sufferers, and lots of flip to social media for steering,” stated allergist Nadia Hamid, MD, ACAAI member and lead writer of the examine. “Whereas private tales are useful, there’s additionally lots of misinformation. When allergists and different docs step in, their content material resonates – suggesting an actual alternative to enhance public understanding.”
A second examine examined TikTok movies about bronchial asthma, a extra widespread situation. Of the 40 most-liked English-language movies posted in 2024 beneath #bronchial asthma, a couple of in 4 contained inaccurate or deceptive claims. Among the many most regarding myths: that bronchial asthma might be cured with respiration workout routines or that caffeine mixed with bronchial asthma inhalers might be deadly. Alarmingly, these deceptive, inaccurate movies had been extra in style, receiving over 3 times as many likes as correct ones.
Most asthma-related movies had been created by non-physicians, and total high quality scores had been low. In line with the researchers, this displays each the recognition of anecdotal well being content material and the relative shortage of doctor voices on the platform.
“TikTok and different platforms provide unbelievable alternatives to achieve sufferers the place they’re,” stated Ishitha Jagadish, MD, medical resident and lead writer of the examine. “However proper now, misinformation about bronchial asthma shouldn’t be solely widespread, it’s extra engrossing than correct content material. We’d like extra allergy and bronchial asthma consultants on-line to current science-based, participating content material.”
Collectively, the 2 research underscore each the promise and the pitfalls of social media as a well being info supply. Affected person tales can present consolation and neighborhood, however with out the presence of medical consultants, myths unfold rapidly – and might affect well being behaviors in harmful methods.
THE TICK TALKS: A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF #ALPHAGAL CONTENT ON A SOCIAL VIDEO SHARING PLATFORM
Hamid *1, N. LaGrega2, M. Love (F)1, 1. Kansas Metropolis, KS; 2. Columbia, MO.
Introduction: Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is an rising, tick-borne situation wherein people develop hypersensitivity reactions to galactose-α-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal), a carbohydrate present in non-primate mammalian meat following a tick chew. As consciousness grows, social media has turn out to be a preferred platform for affected person storytelling, peer training, and even medical misinformation. Right here, we analyzed themes, accuracy, and engagement patterns of AGS social media movies to determine alternatives for public well being communication.
Strategies: AGS, english-language movies on a single social media platform had been analyzed. The highest 100 movies from the hashtag question “alphagal” had been analyzed. Movies had been coded utilizing a structured rubric for writer supply, thematic content material, and engagement metrics (video size, likes, feedback).
Outcomes: A complete of 5,572 movies had been out there with the hashtags “alphagal”, “alphagalsyndrome”, and “alphagalallergy. There have been 9 hours, 8 minutes of content material. Solely 15 of the highest 100 movies had been created by physicians, most of whom weren’t allergists (greater than 50%). Doctor movies averaged 2:32 minutes in size, 31,526 likes, and 830 feedback – demonstrating increased engagement than the 85 movies by nonphysicians, which averaged 1:55 minutes, 9,219 likes, 202 feedback and had been largely anecdotal. Other than allergists, there have been movies made by physicians in gastroenterology, cardiology, orthopedic surgical procedure, household medication, emergency medication, pediatrics, and psychiatry. Conclusion: Social media content material associated to AGS displays useful affected person narratives however can also be a supply of misinformation. Clinician engagement, significantly by allergists, presents an necessary alternative for correct, empathetic public training on this advanced and rising allergic illness.
MISINFORMATION GOES VIRAL: ASSESSING ASTHMA-RELATED TIKTOK CONTENT
Jagadish*1, M. Mohammad2, R. Ablao2, A. Gonzalez-Estrada3, 1. Phoenix, AZ; 2. Chandler, AZ; 3. Scottsdale, AZ.
Introduction: TikTok is an more and more influential platform for well being info, together with bronchial asthma content material. Whereas it affords novel instructional alternatives, it additionally spreads misinformation that will jeopardize affected person security. This examine evaluates the accuracy, high quality, and engagement of high-visibility TikTok movies about bronchial asthma and identifies recurring misconceptions in comparison with evidence-based pointers.
Strategies: A cross-sectional content material evaluation was carried out on English-language TikTok movies beneath the hashtag #bronchial asthma, posted between January and December 2024. The 40 most-liked movies with a minimum of 40 likes had been included. Movies had been independently reviewed by two Inside Drugs residents utilizing the International High quality Rating (GQS) and a modified DISCERN instrument. Content material was categorized by creator kind and video theme. DISCERN scores had been grouped as Low (≤32), Reasonable (33-50), or Excessive (51-75). Engagement metrics (likes, feedback, shares) had been in contrast between correct and deceptive movies. Cohen’s kappa assessed interrater reliability.
Outcomes: Eleven movies (26%) contained partially or absolutely inaccurate info. Widespread myths included claims that bronchial asthma might be cured with respiration workout routines or that caffeine mixed with bronchial asthma inhalers could trigger loss of life. Deceptive movies acquired increased median likes (1,266) than correct ones (375). Most movies (78%) had been created by non-physicians, whereas solely 22% had been made by physicians. The imply GQS was 3.02 and the imply DISCERN rating was 31.80, with Cohen’s kappa of 0.16 and 0.30, respectively.
Conclusions: Bronchial asthma-related misinformation is prevalent on TikTok and tends to obtain extra engagement than correct content material. Larger clinician presence on social media is required to advertise evidence-based bronchial asthma training.
