At a glance
- Misinformation is fake or false information.
- Disinformation is fake or false information shared with bad intentions. For example, people might spread disinformation to trick others.
- Mis and disinformation can stop you from making safe decisions about your health.
- If information has lots of spelling mistakes or doesn’t share details about the author, it might not be trustworthy.
- Look for health information from places like Australian government websites or hospitals.
- If you aren’t sure whether something is true, always fact-check before sharing it with others.
What is misinformation?
With so much news shared every day, it’s hard to tell truth from lies.
Misinformation is fake or false information. It can be:
- completely made up
- a mix of truth and lies
- true, but taken out of context in a way that changes its meaning.
People might spread misinformation by accident or on purpose. For example, if someone shares a made-up news post on social media, but they think it’s true, they are
spreading misinformation accidentally. But if they share it knowing it was fake, they are doing it on purpose. This is called ‘disinformation.’
What’s the difference between misinformation and disinformation?
The main difference between misinformation and disinformation is the end goal. Disinformation is fake or false information spread with bad intentions. For example, to trick someone into believing a lie. It includes:
- made-up stories
- twisted information
- misleading information that pushes an opinion (also called ‘propaganda’).
People and organisations might share disinformation to:
- get power
- change opinions
- get attention
- scam or trick others
- sell products or make money
- show political views.
What is fake news?
You might have heard the term ‘fake news’ – this is a type of misinformation. It includes stories that look and sound like news but are misleading or completely made up. Sometimes, people share fake news as a joke, but other times, they spread it with bad intentions. For example, a fake news story that falsely claims deodorant causes cancer.
How can misinformation harm my health?
There’s a lot of mis and disinformation in the health space. You probably see it on social media all the time without even realising.
Some examples you might have seen are:
- Influencers sharing health advice about topics they aren't experts in. For example, a famous influencer telling their followers about a diet for weight loss when they haven't done proper training in nutrition.
- Social posts spreading made-up health information. For example, posts sharing the myth that vaccines cause autism, which scientists have proven beyond doubt
to be false.
- Health hacks that can harm you. For example, people saying you don’t need to wear sunscreen because the sun helps your skin. It's good to get some sun, but too much can damage your skin
and might lead to skin cancer later in life.
- Celebrities selling products like 'skinny teas' and 'vitamin gummies' that promise unproven health benefits. If a product hasn't been tested properly, it might not work and can even harm you.
Mis and disinformation can stop you from making safe decisions about your health.
Signs that health information might not be true
Watch out for warning signs that online health information might not be true or trustworthy.
- One option only: There are usually lots of ways to address a health problem. If a website only gives you one option, like a product they sell, they might be more focused on making money than helping you. It’s best to read a few trusted sources
before taking any health advice. Always speak with your local doctor (General Practitioner or ‘GP’) before starting new products or treatments.
- Asking for personal details: You should be careful on websites that ask for your name, email or contact number before they give you any information. There's no way to know exactly who will have access to these details or how they might be used.
- Urgency: Some websites will try to scare you into making quick decisions. For example, telling you to buy now because 'stocks are limited.' Never feel rushed into buying a product or service before doing research and thinking about all your
options.
- Criticising expertise: If a website criticises medical doctors and medicines, stop to think about why. Are they doing it to help you, or because they want you to spend money with them instead? You should also consider whether they have enough
training to give health advice.
- Research data but no sources: Try to find where health research comes from and whether other trusted websites reference it. If you can't find a source, or the data seems strange – for example, really high or low numbers – it might not be true.
- Big claims: Be suspicious of websites making big health claims if you can't find them elsewhere. For example, if a supplement claims to be a ‘miracle cure’ for a type of cancer that can’t be cured, there’s a strong chance it won't work.
- Poor spelling and grammar: Websites with lots of spelling mistakes might not be trustworthy. Most high-quality sources have expert editors who check content before it’s published.
- No review dates: Be wary of websites that don't share when content was published or reviewed. Science can move quickly; without dates, it’s impossible to know if health advice is current or out of date.
How to know if you can trust health information
Some good ways to tell if you can trust health advice are:
- It's an Australian government agency, hospital or health service.
- Look for websites with org.au, gov.au or vic.gov.au addresses, like Better Health Channel.
- The ends of Australian website addresses have different meanings. For example, gov.au or vic.gov.au are usually government agencies, org.au is usually a professional or not-for-profit organisation, and edu.au is
usually for education, like universities.
- It shares research to support what it says.
- It has advice from experts like doctors.
- It says when it was published, so you know how old the advice is.
- It's written in plain language that you can understand.
- It links you to other trusted websites and Australian-based services.
Tips for finding good health information
Use local sources
If you are in Australia, try to use Australian sources. This is because laws, advice and treatments might not be the same in every country. Places like Australian government agencies and hospitals can give you advice and connect you with local support
Fact-check everything
Don't believe everything you see about health – especially on social media. Try to fact-check any new information you read. To do this, you can:
- talk about it with someone you trust, like a parent
- ask a health worker, like the school nurse, counsellor or your GP
- look for studies that show the same results
- see if sources you trust say the same thing.
You should always fact-check information before sending it to your friends. This will stop you from accidentally sharing misinformation.
Watch out for conflicts of interest
Sometimes, a person or organisation’s interests might affect their opinions and actions. These are called ‘conflicts of interest.’
Examples of conflicts of interest are:
- A website promoting a product or service that they sell
- Research into a medicine paid for by the company selling the medicine
- An influencer posting paid ads on social media about health products.
When you read health advice, it’s important to watch out for conflicts of interest. Ask yourself, will a person or company make money from you if you believe what they say or buy what they sell? If the answer is yes, then you should be careful.
Conflicts of interest aren’t always a bad thing; they are pretty common in medicine. The key is whether people are open about it. For example, if an influencer writes ‘#ad’ on a paid social post, they are telling you about possible conflicts of interest
so you can make an informed decision.
Don't rely on other people’s experiences
It can be helpful to connect with others facing similar challenges. But you shouldn't rely on what they tell you. Everyone is different – treatments that work for one person won't always work for another.
Make sure you speak to your GP before starting new supplements or treatments. Supplements, in particular, can even be dangerous as they might affect other medicines you take.
Ask for help
It’s better to ask for help than wonder if you can trust what you read online. You could speak to a school nurse, pharmacist, your GP or another qualified health worker for specific health advice. Many librarians can also help you spot signs of misinformation.
Things you might be wondering
Can I trust AI tools to give good health information?
AI tools like ChatGPT and Google's AI Overview use information on the internet to answer questions. They don't come up with advice from scratch. The tools are getting better at forming answers using high-quality websites, but they can still make
mistakes.
Always fact-check AI health advice. Most AI tools list the sites they used to answer your question; it's best to check those sites yourself. This way, you will know if the advice is from trusted sources.
Are there any laws around health advertising?
There are laws in Australia that control how companies can promote health products and services. Three major organisations manage most of these laws: the Medical Board of Australia, the TGA and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority (AHPRA).
If you think an organisation might be breaking the rules, you can report them directly to AHPRA.
How do I know if a research study is trustworthy?
Just because a product or service claims to be backed by a study, doesn’t automatically mean it works or is safe. Some studies are well done, but others are weak and more like marketing tools than scientific research.
When looking at a study, think about what it was trying to test, who ran and paid for it, how many people took part and how the data was collected. If a study only had five people and those same people reported the results themselves, it might
not prove anything.
One sign of a good study could be if it’s been published in a peer-reviewed journal, like the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) or the British Medical Journal (BMJ). These
journals have very high standards. You should also check the type of findings. If a study only has ‘preliminary’ findings, this means it’s too early to know what they show or mean.
It's best to look for studies where others have found the same results. This means it has been ‘replicated.’ Generally, if a study has been replicated, its results are more reliable.
I feel like I’ve tried everything for my health condition. Is there harm in trying an alternative medicine?
Some natural or alternative medicines might help improve your health when used with advice from your GP. But it's important to be wary. Dodgy companies target people who are desperate for medical cures. They make money from selling 'hope' and
promising to fix problems they can't solve. In some cases, they can actually make things worse. It's best to speak with your GP or another qualified health worker before trying natural medicines.
Helpful links
Developed by The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH); medical review by the Health Literacy team. Created with advice from the RCH Health Literacy Youth Advisory Committee.
Reviewed August 2025
Speak with a doctor for up-to-date and personalised medical advice.