Online Misinformation Can Cost Lives: Dr Siya At The 1 Billion Followers Summit 2026

Medical specialist Dr. Siya used the 1 Billion Followers Summit 2026 in Dubai to warn that online misinformation and disinformation can directly cost lives, urging social media users to think carefully before reposting content and stressing that "Medicine saves lives one at a time. Responsible information saves lives at scale," during a keynote session.

Speaking at the 4th edition of the event, organised by the UAE Government Media Office, Dr. Siya drew on experience as a senior specialist in crowded trauma wards and emergency units in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic, describing how misleading content on social platforms affected medical decisions and outcomes for many patients.

Dr. Siya highlighted that the World Economic Forum has classified misinformation and disinformation as the top global threat for two consecutive years, ranking them alongside wars and climate change, while an MIT study showed false information spreads six times faster than accurate facts, creating major pressure on health systems already dealing with serious disease burdens.

Although rumours and false health claims have existed throughout history, Dr. Siya argued that social media now amplifies them at scale, and said a current online "battle" involves misleading claims about cancer cures, which can cause people to postpone or abandon necessary, evidence-based treatment while pursuing unproven alternatives promoted through popular digital channels.

Reflecting on the COVID-19 outbreak, Dr. Siya said online misinformation was a major factor behind lower vaccine uptake, which then contributed to severe illness, hospitalisation and death, noting that many patients delayed or refused proven therapies because of content they consumed on social platforms rather than advice from trained healthcare professionals.

"People were coming in because of their beliefs that were made by what they saw, read or were told online. People started refusing and delaying evidence-based treatment," said Dr. Siya, explaining that such beliefs translated into concrete choices in emergency rooms, where clinicians then had fewer tools available to prevent serious complications.

Personal journey countering misinformation on social media

During the pandemic, Dr. Siya rose to prominence by posting medical advice online and later decided to address misleading content directly on TikTok, steadily building a following that now exceeds 4 million users, and using that audience to challenge false claims, provide accessible medical explanations and respond to viral narratives in real time.

One case shared by Dr. Siya involved a three-month-old baby whose mother had followed advice from a traditional healer promoted online, who claimed natural treatment could cure everything; by the time the mother reached hospital, "the baby was not moving, was not breathing; that baby was killed," illustrating how digital misinformation can shape tragic real-world outcomes.

3C framework against health misinformation on social media

To help other creators and audiences counter false health narratives, Dr. Siya presented a 3C framework built around Credibility, Connection and Clarity, explaining that this approach guides content production across social media platforms and can support both professionals and everyday users who want to share reliable information with their communities.

For content creators, credibility includes showing recognised qualifications and appearing as a trustworthy source, for example by wearing a lab coat or scrub, while connection comes from being relatable, expressing emotions and using storytelling, because audiences often open social media "to be entertained, not use their cognitive energy".

According to Dr. Siya, clarity requires breaking information into simple, manageable explanations so people can understand and remember it, which then makes accurate posts more shareable; for online audiences, the same three concepts apply when judging any claim, starting with checking whether the speaker is a trained medical professional with verifiable credentials.

Dr. Siya underlined that connection matters for users as well, since many people act as trusted voices within families and friend groups, and therefore should pause before reposting clips or text, while clarity should serve as a filter: if a person does not fully understand what a post means, it is safer not to share it.

1 Billion Followers Summit, misinformation and social media

The 1 Billion Followers Summit 2026 ran from 9 to 11 January 2026 at Jumeirah Emirates Towers, DIFC and the Museum of the Future under the theme ‘Content for Good’, bringing together creators, executives and experts to discuss the responsibilities that come with large digital audiences and powerful social media channels.

The event attracted more than 30,000 attendees, including over 15,000 content creators from around the world, more than 500 expert speakers with a combined following of 3.5 billion, and over 150 CEOs and global experts, offering a large forum where discussions about misinformation, disinformation and responsible communication could reach diverse online communities.

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For participants and observers in the Middle East and beyond, Dr. Siya’s message framed health communication as a shared duty, linking digital behaviour with outcomes in hospitals and clinics, and reinforcing the idea that careful choices about content creation and sharing on social media can prevent harm during future public health crises.

With inputs from WAM