Date: March 6
Time: 11 a.m. - noon (Central time)

The ubiquity of social media has created new opportunities for qualified or credentialed experts within the scientific community to connect with clients and the public. It has also created challenges. Health and wellness gurus, or self-proclaimed experts, utilize social media platforms to garner attention through compelling narratives, build audience followings, and influence public opinion by sharing (often) misleading information about food and nutrition. The consequence of this can be the perpetuation of misinformation that not only undermines a well-functioning democracy but also diminishes support for policies that are science- or evidence-based. Registered Dietitians, Dietetic Technicians Registered, clinician-scientists, researchers, communicators, educators, and food experts need to encourage and model critical thinking to participate in our mass information world and mitigate misinformation. These experts can play a vital role in evaluating information about food and nutrition against the body of evidence.