Bad Influence: How the Internet Hijacked Our Health

You used to see a doctor. Now you go online.

Need to focus? Want to lose weight? Build muscle? Get pregnant? Advice is just a click away.

With long waits for treatment and fewer face‑to‑face GP appointments, influencers have stepped into the breach. From doctors promoting untested therapies to celebrities selling solutions, these self-styled experts radiate wellness and guarantee results.

Exploring the transformation of a healthcare system driven by online trends, Dr Deborah Cohen reveals the truth behind Ozempic influencers, AI-powered diagnoses, ‘preventative’ screening and Instagram’s favourite wearable tech.

Bad Influence is about the commodification of health in an age of anxiety and why we can no longer distinguish medicine from marketing.