Users of social media and AI chatbots for health information are more likely to say they are convenient than accurate

In a world where health information can come from countless sources outside of a doctor’s visit, social media and AI chatbots offer newer, digital-first avenues to health news and advice for some Americans. But these always-available alternatives don’t necessarily include guarantees of accuracy or understandability, and some of that shows in how users evaluate them. Key highlights from Pew's survey on health information sources: 

• About a third (36%) of Americans say they get health information from social media at least sometimes, and 22% say this about artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots.
• Younger Americans are more likely to use social media at least sometimes for health information than their older peers. These age differences are smaller for AI chatbots.
• Most social media and AI chatbot health information users do not rate the information they get from these sources as highly accurate or highly personalized. However, sizable shares see them as highly convenient, and for AI chatbots, extremely or very easy to understand.
• Americans without any form of health insurance are modestly more likely to get health information at least sometimes from these sources than those who do have health insurance.