Health misinformation is rampant on social media – here's what it does, why it spreads and what people can do about it

Media literacy is more essential than ever. Wanlee Prachyapanaprai/iStock via Getty Images Plus

The global anti-vaccine movement and vaccine hesitancy that accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic show no signs of abating.

According to a survey of U.S. adults, Americans in October 2023 were less likely to view approved vaccines as safe than they were in April 2021. As vaccine confidence falls, health misinformation continues to spread like wildfire on social media and in real life.