Recall the last time you fell ill. What did you do? If you fall into the large percentage of Americans who self-diagnose, your response might be to simply search for illnesses fitting your symptoms on Google.
The internet has changed the medical world, and the availability of medical information today is unprecedented. When feeling ill, many Americans choose to search for an explanation online. In fact, over one-third of all U.S. adults use the internet to self-diagnose.
However, could this increased availability of information be a double-edged sword? The internet spreads inaccurate medical information and permits the dangerous practice of self-diagnosis.
Why is self-diagnosis dangerous?Figuring out medical problems is best left to medical professionals. When a person self-diagnoses, they usually look at symptoms of specific illnesses, then check if their own symptoms match. This can be an inaccurate method of diagnosis.
For example: based on a list of symptoms, a person with severe anxiety issues might come to the conclusion that they have generalized anxiety disorder. A trained psychiatrist might come to the more precise conclusion that the patient actually has major depression. With a self-diagnosis, the patient would not seek proper treatment. Rather than seek a cure for a larger problem, they might seek medications to mask the symptoms.
In other instances, individuals might severely overestimate the severity of their medical issues. The availability of information online can be detrimental to the mental health of hypochondriacs (people who are abnormally worried about their health). In fact, a phrase has been coined for people who practice such tendencies online: cyberchondria. Minor dizziness and chest pain can instantly spell heart failure to a cyberchondriac. Skin discolorations can be misinterpreted as cancer. These misconceptions can cause a great deal of mental stress.
How did self-diagnosis become a problem?
Social media may be to blame. One needs to look no further than Facebook stock to know that the social media network has grown exponentially over the past four years. For a social media giant, growth means more users. In fact, almost two-thirds of adults in the U.S. regularly use Facebook. The network has had a major impact on the way we consume media.
Since each person's newsfeed is dependent on who they are friends with, users are given an echo chamber -- and are segmented into generally isolated communities. If inaccurate information circulates in one of these communities, knowledgeable outsiders will be unable to correct inaccuracies or misconceptions. This problem is compounded by shady advertisers, who buy ads on Facebook designed to look like authentic sources of information. As a result, a lot of incorrect medical information is spread throughout these communities.
What kind of inaccurate medical information is shared online?
The problems of self-diagnosis can be exacerbated by inaccurate information. On the internet, the advertising dollar is king. People are exposed to information and articles that advertisers want them to be exposed to. It is no wonder that, as a result, a vast amount of baseless medical advice is shared online.
What is the answer to most ailments, according to advertisers? A product. Readers looking for examples of false medical information should look at legal actions made against corporations for false claims in the past few years. False claims often become scandals for brands. Some examples include:
Activia claimed that their yogurt is specifically formulated to help with digestion. This was found to be false.
In 2010, Kellogg's was sued for claiming that Rice Krispies and Frosted Mini-Wheats boosted the immune system. The FTC found these claims to be false.
Airborne was promoted to prevent ailments like the flu and common cold. Airborne had to pay over $20 million for false claims. It is now advertised as a mere vitamin C supplement.
False scientific claims can come back to harm brands, but the amount of sales that they generate with such claims often offset legal costs. Users often fail to use critical thinking skills to verify such information. Readers must carefully examine such claims for accuracy.
There is no question that the increased availability of medical information has had a positive effect on the industry. Technological innovations that have led to this increase will continue to have a profound impact on the future of healthcare information systems. However, when used incorrectly, this information can lead to very poor decisions. Resist the urge to self-diagnose. The only responsible way to interpret symptoms is through a trained medical professional.
