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Up to 35% of older Americans

and half of adults under 50

get health information and advice from social media influencers and podcasters, most of whom are not health care professionals, according to a Pew Research Center report published online May 7, 2026.

Researchers analyzed the posts of 6,828 content producers, each of whom had at least 100,000 followers on social media, and regularly posted about health and wellness or hosted a top-ranked podcast that covered these topics. The researchers also looked at responses from 10,134 American adults to two separate 2025 surveys. Participants reported how frequently they sought health and wellness information from influencers and podcasts.

While 41% of influencers described themselves as some form of health care professional, only 17% were doctors, dentists, or nurses. About 30% said they were coaches, and 28% reported being entrepreneurs. About 13% said their expertise stems from a medical condition they have had; their journey to lose weight or improve fitness; or their experience as a caregiver.