In a world of Instagram influencers and buzzy soundbites, it can sometimes feel tricky to know if the information we’re seeing online is actually accurate. Trudging through Google Scholar or waiting on end for a message from your endo can feel tedious, so the accessibility of social media feels, well, accessible. But there are some big downsides. Nowadays, seemingly sound science and “leading experts” often find themselves coming under fire for everything from stretching the statistics to blatant misinformation. So what’s a PWD to do?
Finding Reliable Sources
The first step is to figure out if the person you’re watching or reading is trustworthy. Consider these factors:
- What kind of education does this person have? Do they have a degree in the topic they are teaching? Even if they are a “doctor,” they might not have the right expertise.
- What kind of science or evidence are they using to support their claims? Are they using their own personal life experience, or experience from being in the field? Are they referring to just a single study or a large body of literature? Who did the research? Does it highlight correlation or causation?
- Do they have any conflicts of interest or bias? Are they financially benefitting from people believing what they’re promoting? For example, a person who sells keto or low-carb products has a vested interest in promoting research and case studies showcasing the benefits of low carb.
- Is there a content review process? Websites that incorporate credentialed experts reviewing content (like The Diabetes Link!) are more likely to have trustworthy information. Places like blogs, podcasts, and Reddit don’t usually have oversight, so it’s easier to get away with sensationalism for the sake of likes and shares.
- Give it the CRAP Test. Developed by librarian Molly Beestrum, CRAP stands for Currency/Credibility, Reliability, Authority and Purpose/Point of View. It’s a great way to remember the above bullets by prioritizing: is the science current, is the website/article/podcast citing reliable sources, what are the credentials of the person teaching the information, and does this person have an agenda?
Personal stories are not inherently inaccurate. A lot of great insights come from sharing our personal stories, especially when it comes to things like emotional coping. But unless you’re talking to an expert, we need to remember that personal experiences can vary widely. What people share can be biased and their understanding of why something happened may be incomplete.
Red Flags in Misinformation
Sometimes it’s not clear who is posting the information at first glance, so here are a few things you can keep in mind to quickly spot misinformation or “fake news!”
- All or Nothing Statements: Things are very rarely all bad or all good. Statements like “Never eat carbs!” or “Exercise everyday!” is often over exaggerating the impact.
- Demonization: Using fear-based language, like a particular food or ingredient or being “toxic” or an organization is “lying” or “hiding,” is often overstating their claims in order to push a certain agenda.
- Glowing Praise: Overly enthusiastic about something can highlight someone’s bias. Miracle cures or solutions are often too good to be true or oversimplify the problem.
- No Sources Cited or Cherry-Picking: When someone just says “Studies say…” or “Research shows…” without specifying which studies, or if they are only highlighting one study without actually discussing the larger body of research.
When Content Feels Icky
Online content creators sometimes aren’t a great fit for us — even if we have similar experiences. Social media is by nature a limited view to someone’s life — it’s a curated highlight reel! Not all problematic content is going to be misinformation. Sometimes its posts or reels that evoke feeling inadequate, low self-esteem, loneliness, anxiety, and depression.
Some creators spend more time sharing their negative experiences because that’s what they need emotional validation and support for — which is totally valid! — but it can also lead to hyper fixating on the challenges and frustrations of diabetes. This imbalance can affect our mental health.
Keep these in mind:
- Limit how much time you spend scrolling on social media.
- Unfollow or mute those who don’t align with your values.
- Diversify your feed with a variety experiences and mindsets.
- Ask yourself how you’re benefiting from the content.
- Create a separate diabetes profile.
- Connect with people in real life.
“Remember: you don’t have to consume everything, and you definitely don’t have to stick around when something — or someone — isn’t helping.”
The internet can be both a blessing and a curse. We can learn so much from other people’s experiences, and yet, it can also be misleading, incomplete or just downright fake news. Time to identify what’s trustworthy, recognize when something feels off, and protect your mental health in the process. Remember: you don’t have to consume everything, and you definitely don’t have to stick around when something — or someone — isn’t helping. The internet is full of voices — choose the ones that support and encourage with valuable information and experience, and avoid ones that use scare tactics and snake oil.