BASED on a sample of 2,000 US adults, CharityRx, a discount service at select pharmacies, conducted a study* to understand how Americans learn about health topics and which sources they turn to first.
According to the results, 65 per cent of Americans surveyed turned to Google first before consulting their doctor while 33 per cent go to YouTube first and one in five Americans prioritize TikTok.
Meanwhile 44 per cent of Generation Z respondents turn to YouTube and 33 per cent to TikTok. Compared to the older generation, they are less inclined to consult Google first with just 27 per cent doing so.
Older generations are more likely to head to Google, with 32 per cent of Millennials, 36 per cent of Generation X and 36 per cent of Baby Boomers doing so. Meanwhile 39 per cent of Millennials, 30 per cent of Gen Xers and 21 per cent of Baby Boomers go to YouTube compared with 26 per cent of Millennials, 14 per cent of Gen X and 4 per cent of Baby Boomers checking out TikTok in such circumstances.
So why are young people more comfortable consulting influencers rather than healthcare professionals? If the majority, 55 per cent cite medical accreditation or certification as the reason they trust creators on social networks, 40 per cent say the influencers' years of experience are a factor, 26 per cent mention relatability to a shared experience and 22 per cent believe that the fact they healed from a certain condition make them credible.
However there are differences depending on the condition in question. Fifty-five percent of Generation Z users search for information on anxiety versus 16 per cent of Boomers.
Depression is the medical issue most searched by young people (49 per cent), followed by the morning-after pill (20 oer cent), weight loss (44 per cent), and Covid-19 (17 per cent).
However, Americans say they trust influencers and celebrities far less than doctors with just 17 per cent saying the contrary.
And while half of those surveyed admit they are more likely to buy a drug or supplement if a celebrity recommends it, the vast majority (89 per cent) recognize that influencers contribute to misinformation in the health field and 36 per cent don't trust their advice.
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