January 22, 2025
A growing number of Canadians are encountering health misinformation, with significant consequences for their health, according to a new survey commissioned by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA).
The 2025 CMA Health & Media Annual Tracking Survey Opens in a new window, conducted by Abacus Data, revealed that 37% of Canadians say they’re left with no choice but to seek health information online because they don’t have access to a doctor. And 23% report they have had a negative health reaction from following online health advice. An increasing number of Canadians (43%) also say they are experiencing mental distress or increased anxiety due to misinformation.
The CMA is concerned that social media algorithms designed to drive the platforms’ engagement end up pushing misinformation into people’s feeds – whether users want to see it or not. As this study shows, what’s good for Big Tech’s bottom line is not good for Canadians’ health.
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