Contraception misinformation mixes falsehoods with real-world experiences
Summary
Beginning with a hyperbolic “all the birth control is poison,” this video is an important example of how real-word negative experiences with the health care system and providers contribute to the spread of misinformation on social media. Using an example of a provider inappropriately responding to a request to stop birth control, this influencer goes on to try to persuade viewers to stop using birth control (“get off birth control,” “do your research”) by portraying it as harmful and discrediting mainstream medical advice. These types of videos represent the nuance of responding to misinformation–we need to both acknowledge the legacy of harm caused by the sexual and reproductive health field while also pushing back against blatantly false information.