Share of respondents who followed medical advice from friends/family or social media despite contradicting advice from healthcare provider worldwide in 2025, by age
Characteristic
Friends or family
Social media
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16 countries, around 1,000 respondents per country
Method of interview
Online survey
Supplementary notes
Original question: "Have you done any of the following within the past year?" "Followed the medical advice or recommendation of a friend or family member even though it contradicted what your doctor or other healthcare provider told you" "Followed medical advice you found on social media even though it contradicted what your doctor or other healthcare provider told you"
Countries surveyed: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, UAE, UK, U.S.
*15 countries except Indonesia
Citation formats
Following social media health advice that contradicts doctors worldwide 2025
According to a worldwide survey conducted in 2025, over a****of people have opted for medical advice they found on social media even though it contradicted what their health provider told them. Moreover, even more people have disregarded their health provider for advice from their friends or family. This was highest among younger respondents and decreased with age.
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Edelman. (April 23, 2025). Share of respondents who followed medical advice from friends/family or social media despite contradicting advice from healthcare provider worldwide in 2025, by age [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved August 05, 2026, from /statistics/1625090/following-social-media-health-advice-that-contradicts-doctors-worldwide/
Edelman. "Share of respondents who followed medical advice from friends/family or social media despite contradicting advice from healthcare provider worldwide in 2025, by age." Chart. April 23, 2025. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed August 05, 2026. /statistics/1625090/following-social-media-health-advice-that-contradicts-doctors-worldwide/
Edelman. (2025). Share of respondents who followed medical advice from friends/family or social media despite contradicting advice from healthcare provider worldwide in 2025, by age. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: August 05, 2026. /statistics/1625090/following-social-media-health-advice-that-contradicts-doctors-worldwide/
Edelman. "Share of Respondents Who Followed Medical Advice from Friends/Family or Social Media despite Contradicting Advice from Healthcare Provider Worldwide in 2025, by Age." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 23 Apr 2025, /statistics/1625090/following-social-media-health-advice-that-contradicts-doctors-worldwide/
Edelman, Share of respondents who followed medical advice from friends/family or social media despite contradicting advice from healthcare provider worldwide in 2025, by age ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1625090/following-social-media-health-advice-that-contradicts-doctors-worldwide/ (last visited August 05, 2026)
Share of respondents who followed medical advice from friends/family or social media despite contradicting advice from healthcare provider worldwide in 2025, by age [Graph], Edelman, April 23, 2025. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1625090/following-social-media-health-advice-that-contradicts-doctors-worldwide/
