Where online should I go to get trusted health advice?

Dear Reader, 

Kudos to you for thinking twice about health advice online! While you do have access to an abundant amount of health information through the internet, you’re right that it can be hard to determine if it’s credible. Using strategies such as researching who owns the website, who wrote or reviewed the content, and how up to date the source is may help you figure out its reliability. Continue reading for tips on how to discern credible health information online and prevent yourself from spreading unreliable muck! 

What are some green flags when it comes to health information online? 

To determine if a health website is a credible resource, there are a few signs to be aware of, including:  

• Purpose of a website: Determining why the website was created may help you determine if it’s reliable for you. For example, you may trust the information on a website selling a product differently than one created for education. One trick is to check the website’s URL. If it ends in .gov, .edu, or .org, it more likely belongs to a group who has an interest in sharing accurate information.
• Author(s) of a source: Check if an author or editor is listed, and if they are, review what credentials they have that make them qualified to discuss the topic.
• Review process: Check if a source has a documented review process. This may include having an editorial board of health experts, contact information for a writer or editor, or a policy for developing content. You may find this info in an “About Us” or “Contact Us” section of the website.
• Published or latest review date: The published or review date of an article can tell you how recently a page has been reviewed for accuracy. Pages with older dates may be less accurate, as there may be new findings on the topic since it was published or last reviewed.
• References or citations: Citations allow you to seek out the places where the website got their information. If a website uses reliable sources, it’s more likely to be reliable itself.  

What are some red flags that may indicate less credible health information online? 

Not having any of the green flags mentioned is, by itself, a red flag for a source. Additionally, you may pay attention to the following signs of unreliable information: 

• Heavy advertising: If a webpage has many ads throughout, it may be biased towards the content they’re promoting.
• Offering quick fixes for your problem: If a source is suggesting an easy and quick solution to your health-related problem that seems too good to be true, it’s likely misleading or incomplete information.
• Illogical content: If the writing of a source doesn’t make sense to you, makes illogical conclusions, or feels like conspiracy theory, chances are the information isn’t reliable.
• Artificial intelligence (AI) generated content: AI-generated content is still new, and it often generates inaccurate information.  

Where can you start when it comes to finding credible health information online? 

Even with all the fluff that exists online, there are some reputable online health websites that you may consider using as you look for information related to general health, sexual health, substances, and emotional health. These can include: 

• General health: Healthline, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, WebMD
• Sexual and reproductive health: American Sexual Health Association, Sex Ed for Social Change (SIECUS), Planned Parenthood, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• Substance use and recovery: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)  
• Mental and emotional health: American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, VeryWell Mind 

If you doubt the accuracy of some information you encounter, consider checking it on fact-checking websites, such as FactCheck.org, SciCheck.org, and ScienceUpFirst. Additionally, with public policy changes that impact health information available online, you may consider following current news to help you find reliable health resources. 

How can you prevent the spread of incredible health information online? 

Misinformation can spread quickly, so you’re taking an important step by recognizing how reliable health information can influence you and others. If someone you know has a misconception about a health topic, you can engage them with correct information by listening without judgment, finding shared perspectives on the topic, providing alternative explanations, and sharing credible sources of information. 

Wishing you the best of luck in staying healthily informed!