News: U.S. adults are turning to social media, AI for health advice, recent poll finds

KFF’s most recent Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust found that 31% of adults use social media at least monthly for health information and advice. Similarly, 29% report they use AI tools or chatbots for health information monthly. That number has nearly doubled in the past two years, up from 17%.

However, the majority still reports they either “never” or only “occasionally” rely on AI tools (71%) or social media (69%) for health information.

Although some turn to both social media and AI for health information, the two audiences are demographically distinct. Younger adults are more likely to use social media and AI for health information in general, however the youngest cohort is much more likely to rely on social media while 30–49-year-olds are more likely to turn to AI.

Social media also tends to attract lower-income adults. AI, on the other hand, is more common among those with higher incomes or more advanced educations.

The use of social media for health information and advice is driven by the need for community and immediacy of information. Thirty-six percent of those who use social media for health information report that wanting to learn from people with the same condition or similar experiences is a “major reason” they turned to social media. In the same vein, 35% report that it is because they want immediate information or support.

Only 17% say that not having a regular healthcare provider or not being able to afford the cost is a “major reason” for turning to social media. That number rises to about a third of adults without insurance and LGBTQ adults.

Similar shares report that not being able to afford the cost of seeing a provider (19%) or not having a regular healthcare provider (18%) are both a “major reason” why they used AI tools for health information.

Editor’s note: To read the full report on KFF’s findings, click here.