By Kyrah Berthiaume.
As misinformation becomes increasingly prevalent, public health risks are rising and protections failing. Poor scientific and health literacy among the general U.S. population contribute to poor health outcomes as widespread misinformation and disinformation on social media reinforce false beliefs and erode public trust in science. Prior internal content moderation policies imposed by social media platforms have been discontinued since President Trump’s reelection in 2024. The current administration appears to be weaponizing misinformation and destabilizing key public health agencies as the Supreme Court weakens administrative agency authority and deference. Lacking federal protections or recourse, states can protect the public’s health through affirmative anti-misinformation policies, proactive legislation, and scientific and health literacy research and interventions.