It is time to treat misinformation as the public health crisis it truly is, particularly among youth in marginalized Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) communities.
Already underserved by existing health-care systems, BIPOC communities face increased risks as misinformation erodes trust, delays care, drives harmful choices and widens health inequities, especially among children and youth. As we mark Together Against Misinformation Week across Canada (Nov. 12-17), we need robust action to empower communities as active partners in health education.
With the rise of social media, the spread of misinformation has accelerated to unprecedented levels, with 73 per cent of Canadians reporting seeing suspected misinformation every day. It is startling that online health information is more widely available to Canadians than access to a primary care provider – with 95 per cent of Canadians having access to the internet but only 85.5 per cent having reliable access to a primary health-care provider.
At our recent Together Against Misinformation Youth Conference in Toronto on Nov. 9, participants described the confusing and damaging impacts of online health mis- and disinformation in their homes and communities, frequently encountering misinformation about gender identity and sexual health, nutrition and health active living, intergenerational trauma, mental health and substance use.
Algorithms on social media platforms typically increase visibility of content that garners high engagement, thus promoting sensationalist misinformation that often is persuasive but dangerously false. A 2022 study in the Annual Review of Public Health found that BIPOC families were more likely to encounter and trust health misinformation due to limited access to sources of reliable health information and a historical mistrust of the medical establishment, attributed to histories of colonization, enslavement, medical experimentation and prior experiences of discrimination and/or racism when trying to access care.
BIPOC communities have higher rates of chronic health issues, such as asthma, obesity and diabetes, partly due to social determinants like housing and food insecurity. For BIPOC children and youth, misinformation compounds these risks. Many institutions’ efforts to battle misinformation, however, have used top-down approaches, misunderstanding the needs of the communities and their cultures. When BIPOC parents encounter and act upon misinformation regarding treatments for these conditions, they inadvertently place their children in harm’s way. A 2022 systematic review noted that BIPOC children experience significantly worse outcomes in preventable illnesses when misinformation disrupts medical guidance.
Given the reliance of youth on social media to obtain health information, they are particularly vulnerable to misinformation.
Given the reliance of youth on social media to obtain health information, they are particularly vulnerable to misinformation. When youth turn to online sources, this diminishes the importance of professional intervention or mischaracterizes mental health treatments as unnecessary or harmful. Accurate and culturally sensitive online resources are necessary, as well as empowering youth with skills to identify inaccurate health information.
Addressing this phenomenon requires a fundamental shift in how we approach health communication. Community engagement should not just be a component of health-care strategy, it should be at its core. BIPOC communities possess deep networks of trust and tradition, which make them uniquely powerful in the fight against misinformation and health inequity. Too often, health promotion campaigns designed to counter misinformation overlook or tokenize community partnership, opting instead for one-size-fits-all messaging. Myth busting campaigns are often in English and Eurocentric in their nature, failing to resonate with families who already feel alienated by the health-care system.
We need direct collaboration with community leaders, faith groups, youth, elders and other trusted voices to disseminate accurate health information in ways that are culturally sensitive, accessible and reflect communities’ priorities and values. These trusted messengers may hold more sway than health-care providers when it comes to dispelling myths around vaccines, disability or mental health.
In our work, we have found that youth are far more receptive to guidance when they feel that their beliefs are acknowledged and respected. With this approach, we can help prevent the spread of misinformation and restore a sense of agency and partnership for these youth, families and communities.
In Canada, we have a responsibility to ensure that all children and youth, regardless of their identity, can access the information and health-care services they need to flourish. However, if we continue to ignore the unique challenges that BIPOC families face in an era of rampant misinformation, we fail to meet this obligation. Health organizations and policymakers must recognize the urgent need to develop culturally responsive, community-centered strategies that counter misinformation and foster trust.
In doing so, we can empower BIPOC youth with the knowledge they need to make informed health decisions and work toward health equity.
