Sadly, fake health info is as common in our world as barbells in a CrossFit box. Misinformation is widely documented as a recurring problem in South Africa’s public health environment – researchers and fact-checkers flagged persistent health myths after the COVID-19 peak. And, being able to sport fake health info is essential: the WHO emphasises that misinformation undermines public health responses.
During health emergencies (like COVID), misinformation spreads the most. Here’s how to spot fake health info and protect yourself – and everyone you love – from falling prey.
#1 Check The URL
Sites that end in .gov, .edu, or .org (government agencies, universities and nonprofits) tend to be the most trustworthy. Dot-coms from news organisations can be good, if their reporters are thorough (for the record, we at are sticklers for accuracy). What’s shifty: URLs ending in .co, which often aim to mimic real news outlets.
#2 See Who’s Quoted
If your health info in question is on a website or news site, know that a good journalist will interview multiple sources, including the study author. A really ace story will link to a study in order to corroborate health information and other experts. Take 30 seconds to Google them.
Reliable stories tap credentialed academics (Drs, PhDs) actively studying the area being reported on. In other words, a homoeopathic healer commenting on the genetics of cancer should be a red flag. The same goes for info on Insta, TikTok or anywhere else: someone dishing advice about a health condition should be a seasoned professional in that field.
#3 Find Corroboration
If the health info in the TikTok video is sound, you’ll likely find other docs and experts echoing that info in their content on social media or on a reputable website. If not, they may have done their research and rejected it. One viral post + no other coverage → red flag. If someone is quoting a study, find out who funded it, where it was published, how large the study was and whether it was peer-reviewed. Tiny studies, preprints, or anonymous sources need extra scepticism.
#4 Use Fact-Checks
For suspicious claims, check fact-checkers (AfricaCheck in SA, Full Fact, Poynter/PolitiFact, Snopes, or the National Department of Health). Many claims have already been debunked.
#5 Check The Language
Health info should be informative without being emotionally-charged. Someone who is pushing an agenda (e.g., trying to sell a supplement) will appeal to your feelings, not your brain. Similarly, sensational language likely serves to divert any info about something’s efficacy. “Breakthrough: Tomatoes reduce heart attack risk” will get you to click, but the story should provide context up front, rather than hiding the caveat that you have to eat a truckload of tomatoes a day to reap any benefits.
#6 Follow High-Quality Sources Online
A content creator who is a qualified, registered medical practitioner is a better place to learn about health info than someone without those qualifications. Unfollow or mute pages/accounts that repeatedly share sensational health claims. Algorithms reward engagement – unfollowing reduces future similar content. Use “Not interested / See fewer posts like this / Mute” options on Facebook/Instagram/TikTok/YouTube – signal your preferences.
