Misinformationitis

Dr. Google, online echo chambers, AI, bots and trolls – the countless ways tech spreads false health information, and the impact it has on our wellbeing, will be the focus of a free panel discussion presented by health promotion foundation VicHealth later this month.

“Misinformationitis: the impact of tech on health” will bring together health experts, journalists and influencers - such as former Victorian Chief Health Officer, Professor Brett Sutton and Co-founder of The Daily Aus, Zara Seidler - to talk about the significant impact of digital technology on health, particularly in the context of misinformation and disinformation.  

With the rapid expansion of digital platforms, accessing health information has become easier than ever with around 1 in 3 Australians using apps to try to improve their health and wellbeing. However, digital technology has also led to an increase in misleading or false information, posing challenges to public health and wellbeing.  

Young Australians are particularly at risk, with more than half of TikTok’s Australian users aged under 24 and 70% of teens using Instagram. As a result, young Australians are frequently exposed to misinformation and disinformation, as well as unreliable AI-generated content that can be hard to detect.  

As part of the first ever World Health Summit Regional Meeting to be held in Australia, the evocative panel session will explore the pitfalls of searching for the right health information online.

Tegan Taylor - Health & Science Reporter at ABC and co-host of ABC Radio National’s Health Report, will lead the discussion with a compelling line-up of speakers, including:  

• Professor Brett Sutton AO - Director of Health and Biosecurity at CSIRO (former Victorian Chief Health Officer) (LinkedIn)  
• Dr Brian Li Han Wong - Digital Health Consultant, Global Public Health Adviser, Youth Leadership in Global Health (LinkedIn, X)
• Zara Seidler - Co-founder at The Daily Aus  (Instagram, LinkedIn)
• Akec Makur Chuot – Former AFLW player and influencer (Instagram, LinkedIn).

When it comes to navigating a landscape of misinformation, few people understand its challenges as well as Professor Sutton, whose tenure as Victoria’s Chief Health Officer was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when the spread of false health information was at its peak.  

“In today’s digital age, ensuring access to accurate and reliable health information is paramount, particularly when misinformation starts to gain traction over evidence-based sources of information,” says Professor Sutton.

“Our goal is to equip attendees with the tools and understanding needed to make informed choices about their health in an increasingly digital world.”

With years of experience in covering health-related news, Tegan Taylor is well-versed in discerning fake news and misinformation from what’s real and what can be trusted.  

“Sifting through content online to determine what’s real and what’s not is a real challenge – and it’s something that was so prevalent during the pandemic. Our goal here is to continue that conversation and ensure that people are equipped with tools to identify health misinformation.

“Digital media is a two-edged sword – one benefit is that it makes information more accessible, but people need to understand how to tell the difference between fact and fiction,” says Taylor.  

VicHealth CEO, Dr Sandro Demaio said from a very young age, Australian kids’ data is being harvested and used to target them with online marketing for harmful products.

“Young people should be free to use digital platforms for entertainment and to connect with family and friends. Instead, businesses and organisations that profit from harmful products, such as vapes, unhealthy food and alcohol, collect kids’ personal data and then use it to target them with sneaky marketing. The impact of this marketing on their health could be lifelong.

“This event will explore the role of social media, tech and industry in the spread of health misinformation online, and what we as individuals can do to help protect ourselves and our loved ones from its impacts.”

The event will be held at 2pm on Wednesday 24 April at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Register early to secure a spot at this free public event.

The event forms part of the World Health Summit Regional Meeting 2024, hosted by Monash University. Learn more about the Summit at: www.whsmelbourne2024.com/

Note to Editor

Interviews are available on request with:  

• Dr Sandro Demaio – VicHealth CEO
• Professor Brett Sutton AO - Director of Health and Biosecurity at CSIRO (former Victorian Chief Health Officer)  
• Dr Brian Li Han Wong - Digital Health Consultant, Global Public Health Adviser, Youth Leadership in Global Health  
• Zara Seidler -  Co-founder The Daily Aus  
• Akec Makur Chuot – Former AFLW player and influencer
• Tegan Taylor - Health & Science Reporter at ABC and co-host of ABC Radio National’s Health Report  

Please note however that interview opportunities are limited.   

Media Enquiries

For media enquiries, interview requests or further information, please contact:  

Aly Tennant

Public Relations Account Director, ThinkHQ

E: [email protected]

M: +61 466 636 775

Taylor McManus

Public Relations Account Manager

E: [email protected]

M: +61 455 988 924