40% of US Adults Get Health Information from Influencers

A recent Pew Research Center study indicates that 40% of US adults obtain health and wellness information from social media influencers and podcasters. Notably, 14% follow influencers to learn about topics they prefer not to discuss with their doctors.

Fri May 08 2026

Growing Reliance on Influencers and Trust Levels

According to a Pew Research Center study, 40% of US adults receive their health and wellness information from social media influencers and podcasters. Among respondents, 54% reported that influencers help them better understand how to be healthy. However, only 10% of followers trust 'all or most' of the information from influencers, while 65% trust 'some of it.' This suggests that while access to information has increased, there remains skepticism regarding its reliability.

Influencer Platforms and Perceived Expertise

Of the influencer profiles examined, 86% were predominantly followed on Instagram, followed by TikTok and YouTube. 41% of these influencers described themselves as some form of 'healthcare professional,' while 31% identified as 'coaches.' A significant finding was that 14% of followers cited a major reason for following influencers was to learn about things they did not want to ask their doctors about. ABC News medical contributor Dr. Alok Patel stated that this trend highlights the need for healthcare professionals to better engage with patients digitally and build trust. He emphasized the importance of consumers knowing how to discern good, high-quality, evidence-based information, as anyone can claim to be a health and wellness influencer online and spread misinformation.

*Source: YouTube: ABC News (2026-05-08)*

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