Social Media and Supplements

 About 8 in 10 users search the internet for health information, and 74% of those people use social media.

Considering this shift in where the population goes for medical information, I believe there should be a
 change in regulations and requirements for what goes into online medical content, especially related to
dietary supplements. 

In 2023, senators introduced the Protecting Patients from Deceptive Drug Ads Online Act to empower the FDA to issue warnings and impose fines for false or misleading drug information posted on
line by social media influencers and telehealth companies. However, this legislation does not apply to
dietary supplements, only prescription drugs. This type of enforcement makes sense, but there should be
something similar for dietary supplements, considering they are far easier to access and are often
advertised with broad claims related to weight loss, energy, sleep, or hormonal balance.

A review of 100 Instagram posts from March 2021 about supplements found that 
    Only 4% were posted by verified accounts
    Just 1% included a visible Supplement Facts label
    19% did not list any ingredients
    31% mentioned vitamins
    28% mentioned minerals, without naming which ones
    Only 1% were made by a board-certified dermatologist

A recent survey of 564 Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) showed that 82% consider TikTok the
 top threat for the spread of nutrition misinformation via social platforms. These findings reflect how
widespread and unregulated supplement marketing has become on social media platforms and highlight
 the reasonable concerns of healthcare providers. 

Given this information, it seems reasonable to suggest that social media and influencer marketing should
be required to clearly state what is in the products they’re promoting. If the FDA requires the statement,
“These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not i
ntended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”
on supplement bottles, then maybe that same statement should be required in online advertisements
and posts as well.

This would increase transparency, but even if disclaimers and ingredient lists are provided, there’s still a
question of health literacy. Will the average consumer understand what this information means or know
how to use it to make informed decisions? If someone is relying on TikTok or Instagram as their sole
source of health information, will it make a difference in their choice to purchase something? I think most
people wouldn’t be bothered, but for some, maybe it would encourage them to do more research off social
media. 

Over one-third (35.61%) of people who use social media feel like there's a lot of health misinformation
online—they recognize that false or misleading health content is common. At the same time, about
two-thirds (66.56%) say they have a hard time telling what's true and what's false when it comes to health
information on social media. I feel like this opens up the conversation to a larger problem about people not
knowing how to identify misinformation online in general. 

Influencers and non-healthcare online presences are not held to the same ethical standards as healthcare
professionals when it comes to recommending therapies. Still, many people place a great deal of trust in the
 influencers they follow. I don’t think there is a way to make people care about the credibility of the seller,
so maybe the approach needs to make advertisers more knowledgeable and credible. 

Overall, it’s encouraging to see so many people taking an interest in their health and wellness. But in my
opinion, many are also looking for an easy fix in supplements. There needs to be a stronger focus on
promoting healthy habits and lifestyles, although this is more difficult to package, sell, and make a profit.
Strengthening regulations around how supplements are promoted on social media would not only
improve consumer transparency but also contribute to safer, more informed health decision-making.

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