Abstract

The proliferation of health misinformation on social media platforms poses a critical threat to global public health. 
This narrative review explores the scope, characteristics, mechanisms, and impacts of health misinformation 
disseminated through major social media platforms between 2000 and 2023. Drawing from peer-reviewed studies, 
the review identifies the structural, psychological, and sociocultural factors that facilitate misinformation diffusion 
and examines the role of algorithmic amplification, echo chambers, and influencer-driven narratives in shaping 
public perceptions. Health misinformation spans a broad range of topics including vaccines, infectious diseases, 
nutrition, and therapeutic interventions and often exploits emotional engagement, distrust in institutions, and 
politicized discourse to achieve virality. The review highlights key mechanisms of spread, such as manipulation of 
narratives, exploitation of algorithmic incentives, and coordinated campaigns by misinformation actors. It also 
discusses the profound implications for individual health decisions, collective behavior, and public trust in science. 
While platform-level interventions (e.g., fact-checking, labelling, and content moderation) and public health 
communication strategies show promise, their overall effectiveness remains limited by inconsistent 
implementation and contextual variability. The study concludes that combating health misinformation requires an 
integrated, multi-stakeholder approach that strengthens health literacy, ethical platform governance, and 
collaborative risk communication across global, national, and community levels.