Nurses Report Increased Workload from Social Media Health Misinformation

Nurses at the Royal College of Nursing annual congress in Liverpool said social media platforms are increasing demand for autism and ADHD services while requiring staff to spend more time correcting misinformation. Charlotte Glynn, chair of the union’s Women’s Health Forum, told delegates that widespread use of digital platforms combined with long waiting lists and complex symptoms can lead patients to seek advice from unreliable sources.

Peace Yaa Akorli of the RCN’s eastern region said nurses are often the first point of contact for reassurance and that repeated correction of misinformation contributes to stress, burnout, and lower staff retention.

Mental health nurse Clare Manley, the RCN’s Cheshire branch chair, said platforms such as TikTok and Instagram have encouraged open conversations but have also created misunderstandings about ADHD and autism. Manley added that the resulting strain on services leads to longer waiting lists and pressure on nurses to provide rapid answers in a system built for evidence-based assessment.

Annafleur van Mourik Broekman, who works in public health education on vaccination, said she encounters the effects of misinformation daily and noted that nurses themselves are not immune to it. Van Mourik Broekman said AI-generated content has been identified in scientific studies as a risk to public health and called for greater preparation for future challenges.