Adults younger than 35 are increasingly seeking medical advice from family, friends and the internet instead of healthcare professionals, according to an April 24 report from Edelman.
The report is based on survey insights from more than 16,000 respondents across 16 countries, including the U.S., collected between March 4 and March 14.
Four key findings:
1. Thirty-four percent of respondents said they’ve disregarded their healthcare provider’s medical guidance in favor of advice from friends or family, while 28% reported ignoring medical advice in favor of social media.
2. This trend was most prevalent among adults ages 18 to 34. Forty-five percent of respondents in this age group said they’ve ignored advice from a healthcare professional in favor of input from friends or family — up 13 percentage points from 2024.
3. Thirty-eight percent of adults ages 18 to 34 said they turned to social media over medical professionals — a 12 percentage point increase from the year prior.
4. Among respondents who regularly visit a healthcare provider, 53% said they believe their clinician is “slightly or not qualified” to address their full range of health issues. Family and friends, online searches and social media were cited as the most common supplemental sources for healthcare information.
View the full report here.
