Rick Collins Asks, Should misinformation on health and Testosterone be censored? Any and all health information is available within seconds.
In today’s world, there is information regarding anything and everything at the push of a button. Whether it is current events, news, international, or anything else, all a consumer has to do is search what they are looking for and multiple resources will appear. While convenience might be helpful at times, could this cause issues due to misinformation?
Never in history have we had so much information at our fingertips. In an instant, social media platforms can teach us how to unclog a drain, make the perfect Martini, or do a Zottman curl. But not all the information is accurate. There’s fake news, false facts, and conspiracy theories. Some believe that “bad science” must be censored to protect pubic health.
Different social media platforms have taken action regarding some content but at the moment, it seems impossible to target all “misinformation.” But how can this be fixed?
This brings up the question, should experts be the only individuals allowed to discuss their field? Physicians and medical information, lawyers about the law, etc. This would seemingly eliminate valuable voices outside of the fields.
We shouldn’t restrict content to a single orthodoxy. For example, if we only allowed Registered Dietitians to speak about sports nutrition, we’d be limited to posts warning against eating high protein diets or taking dietary supplements.
Testosterone: Beneficial or Harmful?
Testosterone is a hormone produced by the body that affects a man’s physical appearance and sexual development. Testosterone aids in sperm production and sex drive, muscle growth, and bone development. While testosterone-boosting supplements can be great aids for those suffering from low T levels, knowing how to boost test levels naturally will provide healthier ways to get you back on track.
An Instagram post was shared by Dan Buettner about the topic of testosterone and its public perception.
Buettner, a New York Times bestselling author and founder of ‘Blue Zones,’ speaks at length about human longevity. In a recent post on social media, Buettner highlighted testosterone and why he believes it is dangerous.
“There’s clinical proof that shows your life expectancy drops. It’s a little bit like putting a Maserati engine in a Model T. You know, even though that Model T will go faster the wheels are going to fall off in a hurry. We age and our hormones decrease commensurately for a reason and just by amping our bodies up with more hormones when your bones are brittle and your skin isn’t as resilient and you have fewer muscles and your arteries are often hardened you set yourself up for a catastrophic failure.”
View this post on Instagram
This is an example used to discuss the topic of information that goes against decades of research and personal experiences of patients.
“He may be an exert in certain aspects of human longevity but his opinion on testosterone is inconsistent with almost 50 years of clinical data and the experience of thousands Of physicians and millions of patients.”
This ties into the topic of censorship in a big way. If you disagree with Buettner, should you fight for his words to be censored? Challenging his points and engaging in dialogue is more effective. It also gives viewers the chance to see both sides and made an educated decision.
Rebuttal and debate, not censorship, is the answer in a free society and sometimes, today’s supposed health “misinformation” turns out to be tomorrow’s truth.
There have been many posts and accounts that have been either blocked or taken down on social media due to content that is judged as harmful. Human beings have the ability to censor themselves privately to certain information or take in as much as they want.
The third option is to educate themselves in many ways and this comes from reading discussions from professionals.
And that’s my takeaway. Rebuttal and debate, not censorship, is the best answer in a free society,” Collins said. “This applies to many general health topics, and to bodybuilding and fitness.
The way to counter the abundance of social media misinformation about anabolic steroids, testosterone replacement therapy, and dietary supplements is by continuing to distribute truthful, accurate information on these subjects.
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