A new Pew Research study reveals that 40% of U.S. adults obtain health and wellness information from social media influencers or podcasts. The finding is drawn from a broader analysis of how Americans engage with these digital sources.
The research explores the specific topics Americans learn from these influencers, as well as the levels of trust they place in the information. It also examines the reasons individuals turn to these sources and the methods by which they discover such content.
While the study notes that 40% of adults use influencers for health information, it does not provide a breakdown of which topics are most common or the average trust level across the population. The findings are based on survey data collected by Pew.
The increasing reliance on influencers for health guidance may affect how Americans make decisions about diet, exercise, and medical care. Critics caution that information from unverified sources could lead to misinformation or harmful practices.
Experts have previously raised concerns about the lack of regulation and oversight in influencer content, though the Pew study does not directly address the accuracy of the information shared.