Do you ever find yourself looking for sexual health information online and even on social media? How can you tell if the information you are seeing is credible, reliable or really not the best? This month, the International Student Health Hub sat down with Aiman Rizal, a PhD researcher and international student at RMIT University to chat about how to navigate online health information.
It is okay (really) to have questions about sexual health. But with so much information (and sometimes misinformation) online, where do you even begin your search for reliable sexual health advice?
Aiman shares her five tips for finding trustworthy sexual health information online for international students in Australia. Read on and share them with your friends and peers.
1. Where is this sexual health information from?
Ok so you land on an online website or a social media account, the first tip is to find out who owns the account.
Look for accounts run by established organisations like Family Planning Australia, NSW Health, other government health departments, healthdirect, and your tertiary education services. These sources have experts in health and wellbeing and provide accurate, reliable and evidence-based health information.
Often, these organisations have social media channels which are also trusted sources. Other social media profiles, including profiles from influencers or people who are not qualified health professionals, may have information that is not correct. Always check what you see online against credible websites and sources to confirm if that you are reading is correct.
2. Who is creating this sexual health information?
Leading on from the first tip, the second tip is to find out who is behind a specific social media post, profile or website. Check the account’s bio or the website’s ‘about us page’ – are they a registered healthcare professional, a certified sex educator, or a trusted health organisation? Look for affiliations with recognised institutions and take it with a pinch of salt on anonymous accounts or influencers with no medical background.
3. Check the source, click it through!
Often social media posts providing education on a health-related topic will provide links for further reading or information. Our third tip is to check the website of the links by visiting their ‘about us’ page to see if they are legitimate. Does the post link to credible websites of government health departments, medical associations, or established sexual health organizations?
These are your gold mines because reliable sources cite reputable research and avoid sensational claims. Look for links to studies and medical journals to verify information. Yes, it is something like citing credible journal articles when writing for your essay.
4. Stay skeptical, stay informed
A healthy dose of skepticism is key. While the internet can be a great resource for sexual health information – just be sure to use the right tools and platforms!
It’s important to be mindful of accounts pushing a particular agenda or selling products. Sensational headlines and miracle cures are often red flags.
5. Seek and ask beyond the ‘Gram
Our fifth tip is something we have said throughout this blog – remember that websites and social media are just a starting point. You can get reliable health information from sources like the International Student Health Hub and can even ask questions to the Hub’s free online nurse, Nurse Nettie.
Nurse Nettie is the Hub’s personal nurse. Students can ask Nurse Nettie a question about sex or sexual health. It’s a confidential and free service and is available Monday – Friday.
Staying safe online and offline
You can always speak to your trusted sources, like sexual health clinics, GPs, counselors near you about the sexual health information you found or you have more questions.
Ultimately, it’s important to know about trusted sexual health information and make informed decisions, because you matter, and your sexual health matters!
Do you have questions about sexual health? Why not ask Nurse Nettie a question.
