Social media has become one of the most popular places for people to get health advice—yet many of these tips are causing confusion, stress, and even harm. As more Tanzanians rely on online platforms for quick solutions, health experts warn that misleading or unverified information is making life more complicated.
Many people turn to TikTok, Facebook, X, and Instagram for guidance on diet, exercise, medication, and home remedies. However, much of this advice is shared by unqualified influencers who lack medical training. This has led to a growing number of people trying unsafe treatments, misdiagnosing themselves, or avoiding hospitals until their conditions worsen.
Doctors say they are now seeing patients whose problems were made worse by social media tips that promised instant cures. Some people stop taking prescribed medicine after watching viral videos claiming certain foods or herbs can replace treatment.
Health professionals warn that while the internet can be useful, it is dangerous when people treat it as a replacement for real medical care. They urge the public to verify information with experts rather than trusting everything they see online.
The issue has become so widespread that families, teachers, and community leaders say they are struggling to correct misinformation shared by young people who trust influencers more than trained professionals.
As social media continues to grow, experts emphasize the need for digital health literacy—teaching people how to identify reliable information and ignore false claims. Without this, they say, the problem will continue to worsen and put more lives at risk.
