Quackery, Celebrity Doctors and TikTok Energy: Medical Misinformation Isn鈥檛 New is an eye-opening talk that traces health misinformation from Victorian 鈥渕iracle cures鈥 and patent medicines to today鈥檚 influencer wellness culture. Blending history of medicine with modern public health, we鈥檒l explore why dubious treatments spread, how trust is built (and exploited), and what changes when misinformation travels at algorithm speed. Along the way we鈥檒l examine classic red flags- 鈥渁ncient secrets鈥, 鈥渘atural equals safe鈥, conspiracy framing, cherry-picked anecdotes - and compare them with the same tactics dressed up for the twenty-first century.
This session equips attendees with practical tools to evaluate medical claims: how to weigh evidence, recognise persuasive techniques, understand conflicts of interest, and ask the right questions before sharing or buying into a health trend. Expect real historical examples, familiar modern case studies, and an engaging Q&A that leaves people more confident at spotting hype from science.
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