Harm Related to Social Media Misinformation on Pelvic Organ Prolapse in YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest Posts
Abstract
Social media can improve patient education but may pose risks due to misinformation. There is no consensus on
categorizing types of misinformation and harm. This study aimed to categorize and quantify misinformation and
resultant harm from posts on YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram on pelvic organ prolapse (POP), a prevalent benign
condition that impacts quality of life. We conducted a descriptive study of 300 posts presented in these platforms in
2019. Using Fisher exact test, we show a significant difference in the distribution of misinformation between social media
platforms. Harmful posts were most frequently present on Pinterest, leading to harmful inaction and economic harm.
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