Combat Misinformation

Misinformation is running wild online and it’s not slowing down any time soon.

If you don’t take your seat at the table, unqualified voices will fill it for you.

From viral videos to fad diets, influencers lacking education and expertise are shaping public perception of health every day. Entertainment and relatability make it even easier for false information to go global.

As an RDN, it’s time to stop sitting on the sidelines. You belong in this conversation.

You have the training, the credentials, the experience, and now the platform to set the record straight and lead the nutrition discussion.

This module will provide you with the strategies to respond confidently, compassionately, and credibly when myths appear online, turning misinformation into educational opportunities that not only influence but make a real, evidence-based, public health impact.

What This Module Covers:

In this module, you’ll learn:

How & why to lead the online nutrition conversation with authority
Tips for tackling misinformation & communicating science-backed guidance effectively
Strategies for turning myths & tricky questions into teaching moments that also grow your brand

How to Move Through
Each Module:

Work through this self-paced module at your own pace, learning how to stop misinformation in its tracks, respond strategically, and establish yourself as credible & trustworthy within the online nutrition space

What You'll Use:

Do’s & Don'ts for Online Nutrition
Quick Access to Trusted Evidence-Based Sources
Practical Tips & Example Responses for Misinformation

The Digital Nutrition Landscape

If someone wants nutrition advice today, they don’t usually open a textbook or call a dietitian.

In less than 10 seconds, a search about a symptom or diet can generate hundreds of thousands of posts, videos, and opinions. But here’s the challenge: what appears first isn’t always what’s most accurate. Visibility online doesn’t equal credibility.

Over 70% of adults search online for health information
Social media is now a major source of nutrition advice
For many people, their first exposure to a health topic comes from a viral post, influencer, or trending video, not a healthcare professional

While easy access to information can be empowering, it also allows misleading or oversimplified nutrition advice to spread just as quickly as recommendations rooted in science. At the same time, trust in science and healthcare has shifted since the COVID-19 pandemic, with research showing a declining confidence in scientific and medical institutions.

Part of the issue? The constant mix of information online.

In a single scroll, someone might encounter peer-reviewed research, personal stories, influencer advice, sensational headlines, and viral trends, all presented side by side. For most users, it can be difficult to discern between what’s credible and what isn’t.

Two key terms help explain this environment:

• Misinformation: false or misleading information shared without intent to deceive
• Disinformation: intentionally false information spread to mislead others

Both contribute to confusion, distrust, and poor health decisions, with real consequences for individual and public health.

From Plate To Platform

est. 2026