Trust Issues: Who Deserves a Place in Your Social Media Feed

How to spot red flags, vet “experts,” and follow creators who truly EMPOWER you

We are drowning in information, and not necessarily helpful or productive information either.

Gut health tips.

Hormone hacks.

“This will heal you.”

“This will wreck you.”

“This is the WORST thing you can do for your health.”

Is your head spinning? Because mine is. I am exhausted with the sea of conflicting messaging, fear-mongering, and just plain low-quality information that pervades social media.

Anything for views. Anything for attention, clicks, sales.

But before you roll your eyes, let me assure you that this email will NOT be riddled with complaints from me— complaining is unproductive and gets us nowhere.

Instead, I’d like to help YOU build a stronger “bullshit meter” so that you don’t fall prey to the social media health predetors——I mean influencers—-who capatilize on YOUR fears and insecurities. So let’s get into it!

Influencers - how do they gain our trust?

Trust, in social psychology, is built on three things:

1. Competence – “Does this person seem like they know what they’re doing?”

2. Warmth – “Do they seem like they care about me?”

3. Integrity – “Are they consistent and honest?”

But here’s the sneaky catch: on social media, we often perceive competence through confidence, aesthetics, or consistency, not credentials.

Someone might not be a registered dietitian or certified trainer, but if they:

• Show up daily

• Share vulnerably

• Look the part

• Speak with certainty

…your brain decides you can trust them.

This is called the mere exposure effect — the more often we see someone, the more we tend to like and trust them. This is why creators who post frequently, especially those who speak directly to pain points like “bloated again?” or “can’t lose the last 10 pounds?” — often feel more “in tune” with us than experts who are less visible or “nuanced.”

Trust is emotional, which is why so many influencers lead with emotional hooks - hooks that strike a chord on touchy subjects that are often fear-based!

So What Do We Do With That?

We don’t have to cancel all non-expert influencers. Some are genuinely helpful, caring, and well-researched.

But we do need to fact-check emotion with logic.

Here are a few questions I suggest asking yourself the next time you encounter a post or video from an influencer providing health advice:

• Are they explaining why something works, or just showing me a result?

• Do they regularly say, “This worked for me — here’s what you might consider” instead of “Do this” or “You’re doing it wrong”?

• Do they acknowledge nuance? Or are they selling a shortcut?

Influencer trust isn’t inherently bad.
Blind trust is.

Why Social Media Can Be So Convincing

Welp, there’s a reason your nervous system feels scrambled after 10 minutes on TikTok or Instagram.

Social media is built to reward confidence and novelty, not necessarily accuracy. The more black-and-white, sensational, or emotionally triggering a post is, the more likely it is to go viral.

It’s how the system is designed, because:

• Certainty sells. Algorithms boost content that’s polarizing or overly simplistic.

• Our brains love shortcuts. It’s easier to believe “cut carbs” than learn about insulin sensitivity, blood sugar variability, and individualized nutrition.

• Attractive = trustworthy (in our minds). A concept called the halo effect means we often assume people who look good or sound confident are also right.

The trust is that most lasting health advice is nuanced, slow, and unsexy….AND nothing that is going viral, I can tell you that much. :)

In Today’s Exclusive Content for Paid Subscribers:

I’m breaking down:

🧠 How to Vet a Creator (even if they sound convincing) using a filter rooted in psychology, not pressure.
💡 My Personal “Trust List” — science-backed creators who educate without fear, shame, or fluff — and who’ve genuinely shaped the way I eat, move, and think.

If You’re Ready for Less Noise and More Clarity…

Here’s where to start:

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🤝 Want personal support?
If you’re ready to dive deeper and change the way you live (without it feeling extreme) — with coaching that meets you where you are, helps you unlearn the noise, and creates a strategy for your body and life — my 1:1 coaching may be a fit. I work with women who are done with quick fixes and ready for long-term transformation.

✨ Whether you're DIY’ing or ready for hands-on support, there's a path that meets you right where you are — without the noise, shame, or confusion.

How to Spot Red Flags (and Green Lights)

No matter who you follow and in what niche, there are several RED flags to watch out for. Pay attention as you scroll your feeds this weekend!

Red Flags — Approach with caution if you see:

• Absolutes: “Everyone should fast.” “Sugar is poison.”

• Fear tactics: “You’re destroying your gut if you eat this.”

• No nuance, no mention of context

• Quick fixes and “miracle” transformations

• One-size-fits-all claims, especially from someone with no credentials

• Always selling you the solution. “Blood sugar spikes are killing you - buy my CGM!”

Green Lights — Trust is earned when you notice:

• Use of phrases like “depends on the individual,” “what the research suggests,” or “try what feels good in your body.”

• Educators who say why something works and provide multiple options

• People who admit when science is emerging or not conclusive

• A tone that feels calm, grounded, and empowering

• They don’t sell urgency — they sell education