More and more men in England are turning to social media and AI for health advice instead of traditional NHS services. Research by Healthwatch England found that 1 in 5 men now use platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube to learn about staying healthy. Almost 1 in 10 are using AI chatbots for similar guidance.
The NHS website is the most commonly used source, used by 48% of men. Printed NHS leaflets follow at 30% and NHS 111 at 23%. But Healthwatch England says that younger men and men from ethnic minority backgrounds are more likely to go elsewhere, which could be linked to lack of accessibility to health care. 31% of men aged 18 to 24 said they use social media for health information. Of the men from ethnic minority backgrounds, 27% said they use social media and 18% said they use AI tools.
The report says that this growing digital divide in men’s health could deepen inequalities, as men already face higher rates of heart disease, cancer and suicide compared to women.
Can Online Health Advice Be Trusted?
Many men find social media and AI platforms easier and more private to use than visiting a GP. But Healthwatch England brought up how risky this is because online spaces can spread misinformation. AI systems often lack context about an individual’s health, and social media platforms reward attention rather than accuracy.
Research from Healthwatch Leeds found that young people use different ways to judge whether online information is trustworthy. Some go to comment sections or for the popularity of the creator, while others fact-check posts. But these methods can leave many exposed to false information.
In recent years, misinformation on social media has led to real-world harm. TikTok influencers have been promoting unlicensed weight-loss drugs such as retatrutide, and harmful advice around masculinity and fitness continues to spread. In one case in the United States, an AI chatbot appeared to encourage a vulnerable teenager to take his own life, which made many worry about the dangers of unsupervised digital advice.
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What Can The NHS Do To Reach Men Online?
Healthwatch England believes the NHS should strengthen its online presence to meet men where they already are. It recommends adding a men’s health section to the NHS website, where topics such as key conditions, screening programmes and early warning signs are looked into.
But the report also found that 18% of men aged 25 to 34 said they would be more likely to change their habits if they saw advice from social media experts or influencers. This could mean that trusted online figures can help spread reliable information. Healthwatch England says that working with sports groups, community leaders and popular online personalities could help make NHS messages more relatable.
Improving digital health literacy is also a priority. Many men said they want to learn how to fact-check online health content and recognise official NHS material. A respondent from Healthwatch Bucks suggested producing YouTube videos in different languages such as Urdu to help communities understand topics like mental health and cancer, while also teaching older people how to navigate digital spaces.
Can Artificial Intelligence Help Ease Pressure On GPs?
AI is not only influencing how people seek health advice because its also changing how GP surgeries manage their workload. Software supplier OneAdvanced has developed two AI systems, the Clinical Coding Agent and the Clinical Summarisation Agent, to help GPs process paperwork more efficiently.
The company says the tools could free up the equivalent of 150,000 GP appointments a week and save the NHS £75 million a year if used across England. Real-world use in 143 GP practices showed clear results, with 95% of users reporting smoother workflows.
The Clinical Coding Agent helps improve patient records by suggesting accurate SNOMED codes, while the Summarisation Agent extracts key information for faster review. Dr Paul Wright, medical director and chief clinical information officer at OneAdvanced, said that automating administrative work means GPs can spend more time with patients.
Practices using the system include Middlewood Partnership in Cheshire, Wyre Forest Health Partnership in Worcestershire and the New Islington Medical Practice in Lancashire.
