Health advice abounds on social media. It can come in many forms: patients sharing tips in online forums, videos with people who say they’re health professionals, paid posts and testimonials from people extolling the benefits of a particular diet, treatment, beauty product or exercise regimen.

Unfortunately, not all of this information is reliable — and some of it can be dangerous.

“The distinguishing factor about health misinformation is that it can have a direct impact on the decisions that you make that impact your wellbeing,” said Monica Wang, a public health researcher at Boston University. “So for this particular area of information, I think it’s important to pay special attention.”

Social media is designed to grab and keep our attention, Wang said. Research has shown that misinformation on these platforms can spread quickly and widely, particularly when it makes users feel fear, disgust and surprise.

“Some experts theorize that it goes back to an evolutionary instinct,” Wang said. “If we come across something that might be risky, we have to pay attention and avoid it. And we tell other people within our community, so they can avoid it.”

The posts and videos that evoke emotion tend to stick with us because emotion plays a role in memory, said Dr. Gladys Pachas, a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and the leader of an effort to combat health misinformation in Spanish-speaking communities.

“If it makes you feel sad, you’re going to remember that video,” Pachas explained. “If it makes you feel very happy, it’s going to make you remember that video because emotional memory creates images and stamps in your brain.”

Health misinformation is likely to keep evolving, according to Wang, because much of it is tied to for-profit industries, such as pharmaceuticals, weight loss, food and beauty.

“The health industry is very much a part of the e-commerce economy and the attention economy,” Wang said. “Different organizations and individuals might be competing for attention around products, services and other types of goods.”

Here are six tips from Wang, Pachas and other experts to help you sort the good health information in your social media feeds from the bad.

1. Is this post or video trying to sell you something?

“That is my biggest red flag,” said Wang. “The number one thing I look for now is: ‘Is this post, is this video tied to some product or service that I need to purchase?’ ”

If it’s a video, you may have to watch to the end to find out whether the person posting has a financial incentive, Wang said. She also recommended looking for disclaimers or disclosures of financial ties, although many creators don’t do this.

Some areas of particular concern for Wang include dietary supplements — which are unregulated and can vary in potency — as well as beauty and wellness advice.

This doesn’t mean all information shared on social media by a group or person with a financial motive is false, but it certainly deserves close scrutiny.

2. Identify the source of the information 

People post and repost all sorts of things. One example is the recent viral hashtag “cortisol face,” an idea promoted by social media influencers who claimed stress was causing their faces to have a round appearance. Medical experts said that’s not how cortisol works.

To avoid this type of pitfall, experts said it’s important to understand where a claim or piece of advice originated. Did it come from an opinion piece, or a scientific study? Was it published in a respected medical journal? Does the post name the source? Is it coming from a credible, trusted institution?

“What I mean by that is an institution where you have a longstanding trust relationship,” said Dr. Efren Flores, a radiologist at Mass General and the co-author of a study about vetting sources of health information on social media.

Trusted sources might include well-known hospitals or your doctor’s office, which are staffed by medical professionals. Other examples include government sources such as the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and state health departments. These agencies have no profit motive, employ medical and public health experts, and have strong track records for providing reliable information.

3. Is the information timely?

“Sometimes we get information that is not up to date,” Flores said. That can be a problem because our understanding of medicine and science is constantly evolving.

For example, Flores pointed to cancer screening guidelines — including for breast and lung cancers — which have changed over the last decade to include more younger people. If you’re using old information, you could be missing out on important prevention opportunities.

So, even if the information comes from a trusted, credible source, Flores said, keep in mind that it may not be accurate if it’s out of date.

Another example cited by many public health experts is the claim that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine causes autism. This claim was retracted by the medical journal that published it and has been thoroughly debunked, yet it continues to spur misinformation and hesitancy about vaccines. Health experts have linked a drop in vaccination rates to the resurgence of measles in places where it was once thought to be eradicated.

Health information should be checked to make sure it lines up with the most recent research, experts said. And if there’s disagreement between what you see and something more recent, that’s a strong signal to take a deeper look. Keep reading below for tips on how to cross-check facts.

4. Who is sharing the information?

Anyone and everyone can post on social media. Ask yourself whether the person posting this information has relevant credentials, degrees or expertise, and whether they are well-respected in their field.

“Have they established a field or body of knowledge around this? Are they reputable?” said Wang. “Can I easily find this person online and see that they’ve published in other areas?”

If it’s hard to find information about the poster, such as where they trained or other details of their background, that’s a sign to proceed with caution, Wang said.

If the post comes from an individual speaking from personal experience, that’s important to note. Consider whether they give any data to back up what they’re saying. “One story does not a data point make,” Wang said.

As discussed above, be sure to check whether this person is trying to sell you something.

5. Cross-check the facts

Take a moment to compare the health information you see in your feed with what other credible sources are posting. Check to see whether the claims are similar or different than advice you find from the NIH, the CDC or other government agencies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. You can even send a message to your primary care doctor’s office, said Pachas.

“If you are on Reddit because of diabetes, okay, read that,” Pachas said. “But also cross-check it with the National Institute of Diabetes, right? Or those more official organizations.”

Sometimes, research studies will have contradictory findings. That’s okay, said Wang, “but it’s important for me to notice if the creator or the speaker is talking about research in context.”

Wang said it may also help to talk to a friend or acquaintance who has expertise in that particular area.

6. Is this too good to be true?

Beware of exaggerated claims. Pachas gave this example: “If you eat broccoli every day, you’re going to lose 10 pounds in a week. I mean really, right?”

Another example is the claim that drinks with the artificial sweetener aspartame — which has been linked to potential health concerns  — could satisfy sugar cravings without increasing insulin levels. A joint investigation by The Washington Post and The Examination found dozens of registered dietitians were paid to make that and other claims promoting diet soda, sugar and dietary supplements on Instagram and TikTok.

Trust that little voice inside that says, “This doesn’t seem quite right.” Then, trust yourself to vet the information with help from the tips listed here.