Online health information is widely shared and accessed, influencing daily health decisions. Social media companies must improve access to science-based, credible health information to protect their users.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Digital Channels team recently collaborated with the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) and the British Medical Journal (BMJ). Fifteen global health experts participated in the meeting. The discussion revealed that the principles and attributes could help content creators create high-quality health content. Participants agreed that people need media literacy training to assess the credibility of online health sources. Consider media literacy programs to help reach this goal.

Also, social media platforms should provide content moderation in as many markets and languages as possible to combat misinformation. Participants agreed that having recommendations that apply to various social media platforms could be useful due to multiple content formats and policies.

Finally, social media companies should commit to removing misinformation from their platforms and actively encouraging users to share their progress. Transparency and accountability are required in health and safety.