Get the latest tech news
We fall for fake health information – and how it spreads faster than facts
If the health content you see on social media sounds too good to be true, it’s very likely false – but there are ways to check it out before sharing.
For example, a claim such as “ chocolate helps you lose weight ” can be especially appealing because it offers a sense of permission to indulge and taps into a simple, feel-good solution to a complex problem. The article contained several factors that make people feel an urgency to react and share without checking the facts: compelling visuals, emotional stories, misleading graphs, quotes from experts with omitted context and outdated content that is recirculated. This kind of content is highly shareable, often reaching far more people than scientifically accurate studies that may lack eye-catching headlines or visuals, easy-to-understand words or dramatic storylines.
Or read this on Hacker News
