Health Misinformation: Studi Penyebaran Hoaks Kesehatan pada Grup WhatsApp Keluarga

Abstract

The widespread adoption of WhatsApp as the primary communication platform among Indonesian families has created a fertile environment for the circulation of health misinformation, particularly within family group chats. This study examines the patterns, motives, and generational dynamics underlying the spread of health-related hoaxes in Indonesian family WhatsApp groups. Using a qualitative descriptive method based on literature review and secondary data analysis, this research identifies common categories of health misinformation circulating in family groups, the psychosocial motives that drive family members, especially older relatives, to forward unverified health content, and the digital literacy gap between generations that exacerbates the problem. The findings indicate that health hoaxes are often shared out of familial concern rather than malicious intent, wrapped in emotionally persuasive narratives and false authority claims. Corrective strategies within families tend to be shaped by relational considerations, where maintaining harmony is often prioritized over factual accuracy. This study recommends family-based digital literacy interventions and polite correction strategies as practical approaches to mitigating health misinformation within private messaging spaces.