Online misinformation putting women off contraceptive pill, study finds
Researchers say social media myths drive ‘nocebo effect’ of side-effects that are real but psychological in origin
Social media misinformation about the contraceptive pill is encouraging women to view it so negatively that many give it up, a study has found.
Researchers have identified myths spread on TikTok and other social media platforms as a key driver of users suffering side-effects that are real but psychological in origin. It is called the “nocebo effect”, the opposite of the better-known placebo effect.
An expectation at the outset that the pill will be harmful.
Low confidence in how medicines are developed.
A belief that medicines are overused and harmful.
A belief that they are sensitive to medicines.
Continue reading…Related Knowledge Center: Information integrity
In an increasingly fractured media landscape, truth has been a casualty in the public discussion. Coverage has been warped by the business needs of struggling news organizations, and a significant segment of the public relies on bad-faith outlets that are little more than propagandists. While fact-checking has become routine, some organizations are exploring other ways to combat the trends. And misinformation spewed by AI-driven chatbots has become more of a feature than simply a bug.
Fact-checking and its detractors
Related Knowledge Center: Social media
Social media platforms are the source of news for millions of people — and they have a fraught and ever-shifting relationship with the enterprises that provide that news.
The TikTok ban | The Meta-FTC trial