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According to a KFF Tracking Poll, more U.S. adults are using social media and artificial intelligence (AI) when seeking advice on health issues. KFF found that three in 10 (31%) are using social media at least monthly. Similarly, 29% say they use AI tools or chatbots monthly for health information. This latter number has nearly doubled in the past two years – up from one in six (17%). Clear majorities – of 71% and 69% – say they either “never” or only occasionally use AI tools or social media when it comes to seeking health information.

So, what is driving this increase in social media for health information? KFF found more than a third (36%) of social media users are seeking information about health conditions they are experiencing. Thirty-five percent say they want immediate information or support. Fewer respondents (17%) say not having a regular health care provider is the “major reason” for using social media.

Women are more likely to say they wanted to learn from people who have the same health condition or shared similar experiences. (Thirty-nine percent of women vs. 32% of men.) Young adults under age 30 are also among those most likely to say they want to learn from people with the same condition or experiences.

Slim majorities are confident in their ability to tell what is true or false when it comes to health information on social media (61%) or AI chatbots (56%). Roughly four in ten adults say they are “not too” or “not at all” confident in about their ability to discern truth from fiction.

If information comes from other sources, more are confident. Eighty percent are confident they can parse information from a doctor or other health care professional. Seventy-seven percent are confident about information coming from family or friends.