How Social Media Criticism Shakes Trust in Health Agencies

Trust in health institutions in the US has been dropping, especially among conservatives. But why? Social media might be a big part of the problem. Two big online surveys with over 6, 800 people looked into this. They checked how criticism on social media affects trust in the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Even one look at negative posts can shake trust. The surveys showed that people's trust in these agencies dropped after seeing criticism. Even when the agencies responded, trust didn't fully bounce back. This made people less likely to follow health advice from these agencies. But not all criticism is the same. Some posts that attack the integrity of these agencies make people really angry. This anger can make posts go viral, spreading faster and making the problem worse. So, it's not just about any criticism—it's about the kind that makes people furious. This shows that health agencies need to pay extra attention to criticism that questions their honesty. They need to find ways to rebuild trust, especially when people are already divided on political lines.