“Hi, I hope you’re well I’ve been trying to see if you’ve ever written a blog post on anything related to this, but couldn’t find anything?** Thought it might be a popular topic at this of year. As this [product sometimes used as christmas gift], I was just wondering whether there’s any truth in this [FB post]”

So, she’s right to trust her gut to be skeptical. The post she attached was one of the most effective classic clickbait: hidden harms in the home. It usually targets women.

1. Follow the €: Always ask yourself – does anyone make money off of this content? This is an important thing to ask in Ireland where there are no anti-kickback laws. That means even registered heatlthcare professionals can be online selling you products that they have a for-profit interest in. [There’s more than a few docs and pharmacists slinging supplements – read more on Conflict of Interest in Healthcare.]

2. Don’t go down the rabbit hole: Social media feeds induce anxiety, scrolling, and draw you down rabbit holes —  and it’s not an accident. Limit your time on screen.

3. Fix the Feed: Regularly purge your time line: When you block, mute, and unfollow influencers peddling anti-science and content targeting mammy guilt/fears, your algorithm will eventually learn to show you less. The more time you spend reading targeted ads, engaging with misinformation, or commenting on content targeting mother anxiety – more similar content will flood your feed.

4. Critically think and use common sense: Check information with trusted sources.  For a daily dose of good common sense, try following Irish scientist Dr. David Robert Grimes. I highly recommed his book on critical thinking to families:  The Irrational Ape.

**This social media project has been posting on mythbusting and family health information since 2018. You can check this Blog for archived posts, searchable by keyword.