Omokaro O. C.Chiejine I. J. and Imonna K. E. 

Dept. of Health Safety and Environmental Education,

University of Benin, Benin City.

Abstract

Social media and online resources have affected most aspects of our lives, and many are now using it to guide their healthcare decisions. The proliferation of health misinformation on social media poses significant threats to public health and several factors contribute to this phenomenon. The unrestricted nature of social media in sharing of information and knowledge, including medical and healthcare information that can be quickly discovered by patients has worsen this problem, and since no clear robust and standardized modalities on how health information is shared, this issue is increasingly worrisome and implies that no one is safe from the outright health corruption messages on social media platforms. Public health enlightenment, deliberate efforts by healthcare professionals and healthcare organizations (local and international) are to engaged to monitor and regulate this menace.  For this purpose, this paper examines health misinformation: the contributory factors, consequences and possible solutions.