A study published in JAMA Network Open in 2021 has revealed that one-third of the most popular cancer-related articles shared on social media contain misinformation and nearly all of these misleading posts have the potential to harm patients.
The study was led by Dr. Skyler Johnson, a radiation oncologist at the University of Utah. His team analyzed 200 of the most widely shared cancer-related articles on Facebook and Reddit. Of those, 33% included misinformation, and 76% of the inaccurate posts were considered potentially harmful for example, by suggesting unproven treatments or discouraging proven medical care like chemotherapy or surgery.
One key finding was that articles with misinformation were shared more often than factual ones. This suggests that false cancer claims are not only common but also more likely to go viral partly because misleading content is often more emotional or sensational, which social media algorithms tend to boost.
Dr. Johnson emphasized that this type of misinformation can have real-world consequences:
“We’re worried that people might delay or decline effective treatments because of false information they see online,” he said.
The researchers called for several solutions, including:
- More involvement from healthcare professionals in online spaces to share accurate information
- Stronger monitoring tools on social media platforms to flag and reduce harmful misinformation
- Encouraging the public to be critical of health claims they see online, and to rely on trusted sources
Why this matters:
Misinformation about cancer doesn’t just confuse it can endanger lives. At CancerDisinfo, we believe that access to clear, evidence-based, and compassionate information is a public right.
Murad Karabulut 
CancerDisinfo