Detoxing on misinformation

Because we’ve evolved to react to threats, humans have developed what is called a “negativity bias." when something stands out, like a threat, our minds highlight it. - Kent Campbell

I have a theory. Maybe it’s a conspiracy theory, but it’s definitely a theory. As someone who is on social media avidly, I can say that I’m pretty observant and notice a few tendencies among certain creators. I often come across videos that are fear-inducing regarding food with messages such as, “Stop eating oats; they are so bad for you and detrimental to your health.” “Stop eating fruit because it has too much sugar, and it causes diabetes.” “White foods are so bad for you.” “Eggs are bad for you; they are the worst breakfast food.” “Sugar is addictive and toxic like a drug. Don’t put it in your morning coffee; replace it with a stick of butter instead.” Whew. What’s wild is that these are actual claims that are making the rounds on social media. I couldn’t even make up all the contradicting statements if I tried.

Photo by camilo jimenez on Unsplash

There are so many conflicting views on social media, so I understand why it’s difficult to get information. Nutrition is a hot topic because health is something that is rewarded in society. And just so we’re clear, it doesn’t matter if we are actually healthy; all that matters is that we look healthy. I’ve written on how we treat health as a moral virtue and that not everyone in society can live up to society’s narrow definitions and expectations of healthy, so I won’t repeat myself here. What I really want to get into is how influencers are taking advantage of this fear and monetizing it.

I want to make it super clear that I am not anti-influencer, and not all influencers are created equal or are bad people. There are indeed influencers who use their platforms for good, and the term “influencer” means different things to different people. The category itself doesn’t mean something bad. However, if following someone has made you fear eating any food because of certain “rules” and myths, that’s a problem. It’s a problem because causing people to fear food based on misinformation and untruths to the point where they feel the need to obtain products that are expensive and unregulated is unethical.

There is also a specific formula that many influencers who are seeking personal gain follow. And yes, some, but not all, influencers.

Step 1: They know their audience well and cater to them. People want to know what the secret to health is. It can’t be as simple as fruits and vegetables or whole grains. It must be something more extreme, something less obvious. Because the audience needs to ask, what’s the secret? Influencers are betting that you’ll want to know.

Step 2: Influencers then cater to the fears of their audience. So much of this messaging capitalizes on the fact that many people distrust our food system. “The government is trying to poison us!” Or, “Companies are paying off the government in order to put whatever they want in our food! There are toxins in the food!” These worries are especially powerful when it comes to parents who want to feed their children the very best. But “best” isn’t always what we think it is.

Step 3: Influencers use an authoritative, fear-mongering voice. Messages like “Don’t eat this product. It has high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors that are banned in other countries. You could die.” Or, “This preservative listed here is actually petroleum! They’re putting petroleum in our food! You could die.” Okay, got it. Everything we eat is poisonous, and we could die unless we figure out what the magical secret is. With all this messaging, it’s easy to see why people feel anxious or stressed about food choices.

Step 4: Influencers make their money. Do you think these people are warning us about these things from the goodness of their hearts?  Ha! No way. If there are a bunch of things we shouldn’t be eating, then that means there is a need for products that we should be eating. And if not products, there is always a need for detox or cleanse programs, lists of don’ts, YouTube channels, Instagram ads, etc. Because they’re exclusive, these products can’t be found in local supermarkets, aren’t SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also formerly known as food stamps) and EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) eligible, and aren’t at an affordable price point. You have to get it straight from the influencer. With a discount code, of course. Wink wink.

Do you ever wonder where this desire comes from? This need to seek more because we don’t trust what is being presented to us? In my personal opinion, it has to do with negativity bias, which is the tendency for negative information and experiences to overwhelm the positive. In one study measuring how consumers reacted to positive or negative news, researchers found that the negative news “provoked stronger physiological reactions and garnered more attention than positive or neutral news on average — though individual people’s reactions varied quite a bit, with a minority of people responding more to positive news.” Are you surprised? I definitely am not. This study demonstrates the demand for bad news. It sounds strange to say out loud, but it makes sense. With so much technology at our fingertips and numerous ways to try to do “research” and find out information, it makes sense that people are expecting negativity or falsehoods. Even though this study is referencing news, there are parallels to this and the way social media is consumed.

Negativity bias is often exacerbated by the media, which tends to focus on negative news as it tends to grab attention more effectively, and the social media algorithm tends to favor attention grabbing negative words such as “never” or “don’t.” I remember watching a TikTok video from a creator who explained how to go viral. I normally ignore videos like these because I personally have no desire to go viral because it brings on more trolls and stresses me out, but something the creator said caught my attention. I remember her explicitly stating to start videos with something negative to capture the viewers’ attention right away. “Here are some foods I would never eat as a registered dietitian.” The first time I posted a video stating these words last year, more than 86,000 people viewed it on TikTok alone. It was catchy, attention grabbing, and negative sounding. Of course, there was a comical catch because I don’t fear monger foods, and the foods I avoid are the ones I’m personally allergic to, don’t like, and are unseasoned. But I do notice that many other content creators use this tactic as an actual fear inducing method, which works for their audience.

I am not placing the blame on someone who listens to these claims or even buys the products that these folks are selling. It’s normal to be curious and seek answers, especially when there is so much power in the food systems, and we have to put our trust into the hands of groups of people we don’t know. However, my concern is with the spread of misinformation that comes with this curiosity. Misinformation refers to false or inaccurate information, and disinformation is false or misleading information peddled deliberately to deceive, often in pursuit of an objective. I have good faith (maybe a little too much) that many influencers don’t spread untruths intentionally. Science is hard, and many people have trouble comprehending studies and articles because they are written geared toward an audience of other scientists and professionals, not the general public. So, even information that was easily found through a Google search often may not have been interpreted correctly. Again, I understand why people have questions, but my concern is where answers are sought. If someone is stating that a specific food is toxic while simultaneously selling a replacement to replace that food item, I would question things a bit more.

Unfortunately, there is profit to be made off of fear and wanting to be morally virtuous in the form of perfect health. But it’s not healthy to be scared of food, nor is it okay to seek financial gain from unregulated products that are sold through false advertisements and empty promises. My advice is to limit exposure to negative influences and be mindful of the media you consume and the people you engage with. If someone is constantly telling you not to eat certain foods and causing general fear, maybe start looking elsewhere for information.

We want so much information regarding health, but have you ever noticed all of the contradicting statements? I think of this meme that I found on Reddit. Credt: Unknown.