Key takeaways
- In a May 2026 KFF poll, 31% of U.S. adults used social media for health information at least monthly, and 36% of users said learning from people with the same condition was a major reason.
- Online groups shine for rare conditions: in a 2011 Pew study, people with rare diseases leaned on peer networks far more than other patients did.
- Evidence that online peer support improves health is thin: a BMJ review of 38 studies found that depression improved in only 3 of the 12 studies that measured it.
- In-person walking groups have stronger evidence: a review of 42 studies found lower blood pressure, lower resting heart rate and less body fat.
- Only 36% of people who use social media for health information check with a health professional at least most of the time, so build a checking step into any group you use.
In 2008, a study reported that lithium delayed the progress of ALS, the progressive nerve disease1. Some people with ALS tried lithium on their own. They reported their results on PatientsLikeMe, an online health community1.
Researchers matched 149 members who took lithium with 447 similar members who didn’t. After 12 months, lithium made no detectable difference in how the disease progressed1. The authors reported that later randomized trials reached the same answer1.
The story shows what online groups can do. Patients shared their own data, and the pooled reports produced a clear answer. It also shows the limit. The authors, who worked for the company that runs the site, wrote that this kind of self-reported data cannot replace a controlled trial1.
Online and in-person groups each do some things better. Here is what research shows about support, habit change and misinformation in both, and how to choose or combine them.
Millions use online groups, mostly to find people like them
Turning to the internet for health help is now ordinary. In a KFF poll taken in May 2026, 31% of U.S. adults said they used social media for health information or advice at least once a month, and 60% did so at least occasionally2.
Among those users, 36% said learning from people with the same condition or similar experiences was a major reason2. Another 35% said they wanted information or support right away2.
Cost and access matter too. Among users, 17% said not having a regular provider or being unable to afford care was a major reason, and that rose to 32% among uninsured adults2. Younger adults lead the way: 40% of adults under 30 use social media for health information monthly2.
The platforms are huge. In 2025, Pew Research Center found that 84% of U.S. adults use YouTube, 71% use Facebook and 26% use Reddit4.
The peer-seeking habit is not new. In 2011, Pew found that 18% of internet users had gone online to find others with similar health concerns3. Among people with chronic conditions, the figure was 23%, compared with 15% of those without one3.
What online groups do best
Reach for rare conditions. For its 2011 report, Pew surveyed 2,156 members of the National Organization for Rare Disorders3. These patients relied on peer networks far more than other groups did, and a majority said they had turned to others with the same condition3. If only a few thousand people share your diagnosis, the nearest one may live on another continent.
Help with coping. Pew found a clear division of labor. People preferred health professionals for technical questions. They preferred peers for personal matters, such as how to cope or get quick relief3.
A place for people who feel unwelcome elsewhere. The U.S. Surgeon General’s 2023 advisory on social connection noted that technology can help people find community, especially people from marginalized groups5. Online support groups, it said, let people share experiences and give and receive support5.
Support at odd hours. Pain, fear and new symptoms don’t keep office hours. In the KFF poll, wanting help right away ranked nearly as high as learning from peers2.
Sometimes, quick self-correction. Researchers reviewed 4,600 messages posted in 2005 to an unmoderated breast cancer email list6. Only 10 messages, or 0.22%, contained false or misleading information6. Other members corrected 7 of those 10, on average in about four and a half hours6. That was one active group long ago, but it shows what an engaged community can do.
The evidence for online support is thinner than its popularity
Feeling understood matters. But researchers also want to know whether online groups change health. The answer so far is “not clearly.”
In 2004, a team led by Gunther Eysenbach reviewed 38 studies of online peer support, including 20 randomized controlled trials7. In those trials, people are assigned by chance to one group or another. Of the 12 studies that measured depression, only 3 found a significant improvement7. Of the 12 that measured social support, 5 found a benefit7.
The review found no evidence that the groups caused harm7. Most groups studied, though, were part of larger programs or included health professionals, so the effect of peers alone was hard to separate7.
A 2015 review of online peer support for young people with mental health problems found only six studies8. One forum reduced anxiety but not depression, and the overall quality of the research was low8.
None of this means online groups don’t help. Many people turn to peers for coping3. It means studies haven’t yet shown consistent changes in health measures. The ALS story points the same way: online communities can raise good questions fast, but answering them still takes careful trials1.
In-person groups: bodies in a room, and stronger evidence for habits
Groups that meet in person have more solid evidence, at least for some goals. A 2015 review in the British Journal of Sports Medicine pooled 42 studies of walking groups with 1,843 adults9.
Walkers saw lower blood pressure, a lower resting heart rate, less body fat, lower total cholesterol, better fitness and fewer symptoms of depression9. Where studies tracked attendance, people showed up about 75% of the time9.
One caveat: most of those pooled numbers compare walkers with themselves before and after, not with people who stayed home9. That design can make results look better than a head-to-head comparison would. Our companion article on walking clubs covers how to find or start one.
Structured in-person groups can ease loneliness, too. In a randomized trial in Brisbane, Australia, 120 adults with psychological distress joined a program called GROUPS 4 HEALTH or received their usual care10. The program met in person in groups of five to nine10. Loneliness fell far more in the program group, and members made fewer visits to their doctor over about two months10.
In-person groups offer things a screen can’t. Someone notices when you miss a week. A walking partner knows which trail floods. A local herb teacher can point to the plant itself.
Screens can also crowd out the real thing. The Surgeon General’s advisory found that time with friends in person fell from about 60 minutes a day in 2003 to 20 minutes in 20205. One study it cited found that people using social media more than two hours a day had about double the odds of feeling more isolated than those using it under half an hour5. That is a link, not proof that social media caused the isolation.
How misinformation moves through groups, online and off
In its 2021 advisory, the Surgeon General described health misinformation as claims that the best evidence of the moment shows to be false, inaccurate or misleading11. The advisory cited research finding that false news stories were 70% more likely to be shared on social media than true ones11.
The advisory also warned that platform features tend to reward engagement over accuracy11. When feeds show you more of whatever you clicked, a single misleading post can lead to many more11.
How much misinformation is out there depends on the topic. A 2021 review of 69 studies found that it was most common in posts about smoking products and drugs, reaching 87% of posts in some studies12. Studies of vaccine posts found misinformation in 43%, and studies of diet and eating-disorder posts found it in 36%12.
Platform design matters. Researchers analyzed more than 100 million posts on topics such as vaccination across Facebook, Twitter, Reddit and Gab13. On Facebook and Twitter, people tended to engage with posts from others who already agreed with them13.
Reddit was the exception. Its users can tune their own feeds, and the researchers saw no echo-chamber pattern there13.
Heavy users may be more exposed. In a 2023 KFF poll, a majority of people who used social media weekly for health information had heard and believed at least one false claim about COVID-19 or vaccines, compared with about 4 in 10 people who didn’t use it that way14. That is a link, not proof of cause.
People also check less than they think. In KFF’s 2026 poll, 61% said they were confident they could tell true from false health information on social media2. Yet only 36% checked with a doctor or other health professional at least most of the time, and only 21% checked a health agency website that often2.
In-person groups aren’t immune. The 2021 advisory noted that misinformation also spreads through group texts and email threads among friends and family11. A confident speaker in a circle of chairs can repeat a false claim, and a conversation is harder to fact-check than a post.
Privacy: a support group post is not a medical record
Many people assume their health information is protected wherever they share it. It usually isn’t.
The federal privacy law known as HIPAA applies to health plans, health care clearinghouses and health care providers who handle certain transactions electronically, plus the businesses that work for them15. Groups outside those categories don’t have to follow HIPAA15. Based on those definitions, a peer support group on a social media site generally falls outside the law.
In practice, treat anything you post as something that could be copied, saved or shared. Consider using a username that doesn’t include your full name. Avoid posting your diagnosis, town and employer together.
In person, ask whether the group has a confidentiality agreement, since what’s said in the room stays there only by trust. A deeper article on online privacy is coming later in this series.
Online and in-person groups at a glance
| Feature | Online groups | In-person groups |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Any hour, any day | Set times and places |
| Reach for rare conditions | Strong: peers worldwide3 | Limited by geography |
| Anonymity | Possible with a username | Low |
| Evidence for health outcomes | Thin and mixed78 | Stronger for walking groups and structured programs910 |
| Accountability | Easy to drift away unnoticed | People notice when you miss |
| How mistakes spread | Fast, and feeds can amplify them1113 | Word of mouth, hard to fact-check11 |
| Self-correction | Can be quick in active groups6 | Depends on leaders and members |
| Privacy | Posts are stored; HIPAA generally doesn’t apply15 | Nothing is recorded, but stories travel |
| Local knowledge | Low | High |
What the evidence says
| Question | Evidence level | What it rests on |
|---|---|---|
| Do walking groups improve blood pressure and fitness? | Consistent gains across 42 studies and 1,843 adults, mostly measured before and after9 | |
| Can a structured in-person group program ease loneliness? | One randomized trial of 120 adults10 | |
| Do online support groups boost feelings of support? | 5 of 12 studies found a benefit7 | |
| Does online peer support relieve depression? | Mixed, low-quality studies78 | |
| Do active online groups catch false posts? | One 2006 study of one email list6 | |
| Does lithium slow ALS, as a 2008 study suggested? | Pooled patient reports and later randomized trials found no benefit1 |
Choose, check and combine
Natural health has always traveled person to person. Herbal knowledge moved through kitchens and herb walks, and healing happened among neighbors. Online groups extend that old habit across distance, which is a real gift for anyone who feels alone with a condition.
The same values that draw people to natural health also argue for care in how you use groups. Self-reliance means checking claims yourself. Community means showing up for each other, sometimes in person.
A 12-question group check
Answer these before you rely on any group, online or in person.
Before you join
1. Who runs the group, and are they open about any money, sponsors or products?
2. Are there written rules about sales, respect and medical advice?
3. Do moderators remove sales pitches and dangerous advice?
4. Who can see posts and the member list?
After two weeks of reading or attending
5. Do members share sources, not only personal stories?
6. Are corrections welcomed, or are they treated as attacks?
7. Do people encourage each other to talk with their clinicians?
8. Can members disagree without being pushed out?
9. When someone describes an emergency, are they told to call 911 or 988?
10. Do you usually feel calmer after reading or attending, or more anxious?
11. Has the group helped you do something healthier, such as walk more or cook more?
12. Would you be comfortable if your posts or comments became public?
If you answer “no” to questions 3, 6 or 9, be careful. Those three protect you most.
A simple way to combine both
- Use online groups to find people with your exact condition, to ask questions at odd hours and to collect questions for your next appointment.
- Use in-person groups for movement, hands-on skills and the kind of accountability that comes from being missed.
- Follow one rule for both: anything that would change a treatment goes to your clinician first.
Questions readers ask
Is a private online group private?
Only partly. Other members can read, copy and share what you write, and the platform stores it. Based on how HIPAA defines the groups it covers, a social media support group generally isn’t one of them15.
Are online groups bad for mental health?
Not necessarily. A large review found no evidence that online peer groups cause harm, though it also found little proof of benefit for depression7. Watch how you feel after using one, and notice whether heavy use is crowding out time with people in person5.
What if there’s no in-person group for my condition?
Use an online group for condition-specific advice and support. Then join a local group built around something general, such as walking, for movement and company9.
How can I spot a group that’s really a sales channel?
Look for discount codes, affiliate links, “DM me” offers and leaders who sell the remedies they praise. A good group keeps selling separate from support, or bans it.
The bottom line
Online groups and in-person groups are not rivals. Online groups bring reach, round-the-clock support and peers who understand rare or hard-to-discuss conditions. In-person groups bring stronger evidence for habit change, local knowledge and the accountability of being missed.
Use both on purpose. Pick groups that welcome questions and corrections, protect your privacy, and send you back to your clinician before you change any treatment.
Related reading
About this article
This article was researched using government reports, peer-reviewed studies and nonpartisan surveys, all listed below. It was reviewed in October 2026. It is general education and not medical, legal or financial advice.
Sources
- Wicks P, Vaughan TE, Massagli MP, Heywood J. “Accelerated clinical discovery using self-reported patient data collected online and a patient-matching algorithm.” Nature Biotechnology, 2011. nature.com
- KFF. “KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust: Use of Social Media and AI for Health Information and Advice.” KFF, 2026. kff.org
- Pew Research Center. “Peer-to-peer Health Care.” Pew Research Center, 2011. pewresearch.org
- Pew Research Center. “Social Media Fact Sheet.” Pew Research Center, 2025. pewresearch.org
- U.S. Surgeon General. “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2023. hhs.gov
- Esquivel A, Meric-Bernstam F, Bernstam EV. “Accuracy and self correction of information received from an internet breast cancer list: content analysis.” BMJ, 2006. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Eysenbach G, Powell J, Englesakis M, Rizo C, Stern A. “Health related virtual communities and electronic support groups: systematic review of the effects of online peer to peer interactions.” BMJ, 2004. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Ali K, Farrer L, Gulliver A, Griffiths KM. “Online Peer-to-Peer Support for Young People With Mental Health Problems: A Systematic Review.” JMIR Mental Health, 2015. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Hanson S, Jones A. “Is there evidence that walking groups have health benefits? A systematic review and meta-analysis.” British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2015. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Haslam C, Cruwys T, Chang MX-L, et al. “GROUPS 4 HEALTH reduces loneliness and social anxiety in adults with psychological distress: Findings from a randomized controlled trial.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2019. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- U.S. Surgeon General. “Confronting Health Misinformation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Building a Healthy Information Environment.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2021. hhs.gov
- Suarez-Lledo V, Alvarez-Galvez J. “Prevalence of Health Misinformation on Social Media: Systematic Review.” Journal of Medical Internet Research, 2021. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- ISI Foundation. “The echo-chamber effect across social media” (on Cinelli M, De Francisci Morales G, Galeazzi A, Quattrociocchi W, Starnini M, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2021). ISI Foundation, 2021. isi.it
- KFF. “KFF Health Misinformation Tracking Poll Pilot.” KFF, 2023. kff.org
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Covered Entities and Business Associates.” HHS. hhs.gov