Health

Parliament launches inquiry into anti-sunscreen misinformation spread by social media influencers

Sunday, 18 May 2025 12:03AM UTC

A new parliamentary inquiry targets social media influencers promoting dangerous anti-sunscreen messages, aiming to curb rising health misinformation and enhance public protection against skin cancer risks.

The concerning rise of anti-sunscreen rhetoric among social media influencers is prompting a parliamentary inquiry aimed at curbing misinformation and enhancing public health. The inquiry will specifically target personalities on platforms like TikTok and Instagram who promote potentially hazardous tanning products, often with little regard for the health implications associated with their messages.

Recent viral trends have amplified this issue, with influencers asserting that the application of sunscreen can be likened to "rubbing cancer into your skin." Such statements reflect a worrying tide of disinformation, particularly as DIY sunscreen recipes circulate widely, often lacking scientific backing and efficacy against harmful UV rays. Experts warn that this misinformation not only misguides consumers but also aligns dangerously with rising skin cancer rates globally.

Labour MP Carolyn Harris, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Beauty and Wellbeing, has voiced her concerns regarding the public's understanding of ultraviolet (UV) dangers, stressing the urgent need for educational initiatives on responsible sun exposure. Harris highlighted the ongoing inquiry's intent to assess the risks of overexposure to sunlight while advocating for legislative support to ensure that the public receives accurate health messaging.

Acknowledging the exponential influence of social media in today’s society, the British Beauty Council supports the campaign, citing that misinformation runs rampant across media platforms with inadequate challenge. The council intends to present recommendations to the government and industry stakeholders next year, seeking to address the alarming health risks posed by misleading influencer content.

This inquiry is a response to the broader findings of the UK Parliament's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which has previously investigated influencer culture and identified significant gaps in regulatory oversight. A notable report revealed that over three-quarters of influencers do not appropriately disclose paid promotions, effectively misrepresenting their content and potentially breaching consumer protection laws. This lack of transparency raises critical questions about accountability, especially when such endorsements can have life-altering health implications.

Moreover, a similar investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority recently flagged concerns around influencers not clearly identifying sponsored endorsements. The rise of influencer culture has coincided with a proliferation of unregulated, often harmful, beauty products and advice, highlighting a pressing need for enhanced regulatory frameworks to protect vulnerable demographics, such as children, who are increasingly drawn into this online ecosystem.

Currently, the inquiry will explore the need for strengthened powers for the Advertising Standards Authority, aiming to equip regulators with the means to tackle the dissemination of dangerous health misinformation. Alongside this, calls are being made to exempt sun protection products from Value Added Tax (VAT), which would potentially make them more affordable and accessible to the public.

As public health concerns mount and calls for regulatory reform increase, this parliamentary inquiry stands as a vital step in fostering a safer social media landscape. Empowering consumers with factual information and safeguarding them against misleading narratives that jeopardise their health could prevent more significant public health crises in the future.

The ongoing discourse underscores the critical intersection of social media influence, consumer protection, and public health, compelling stakeholders across sectors to act decisively in safeguarding community wellbeing.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14722893/MPs-online-personalities-anti-suncream-misinformation-TikTok.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2024/07/21/burning-misinformation-social-media-influencers-reject-sunscreen-opt-for-dangerous-alternatives-as-skin-cancer-rates-rise/144517 - This article discusses the rise of social media influencers promoting anti-sunscreen messages and dangerous tanning products, leading to increased skin cancer rates. It highlights instances where influencers dismiss sunscreen, promote 'homemade' sun protection methods, and share recipes for DIY sunscreens, all of which lack scientific evidence and may not protect against harmful UV rays. Experts warn that such misinformation poses real-world health risks, emphasizing the need for public education on the dangers of UV exposure and the importance of proper sun protection.
https://committees.parliament.uk/work/1126/influencer-culture/ - The UK Parliament's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee conducted an inquiry into influencer culture, examining the power of social media influencers, the operation of influencer culture, and the absence of regulation in product or service promotions. The inquiry found that over three-quarters of influencers 'buried their disclosures within their posts' and assessed the impact of influencers on media and popular culture, including their positive roles, such as raising awareness for campaigns addressing vaccine hesitancy among ethnic minority groups.
https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/social-media-endorsements - The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigated concerns that social media influencers were not clearly disclosing when they were paid or rewarded to endorse products or services. The investigation found that many influencers failed to make it clear when they had been paid or incentivised to promote goods or services, leading to potential breaches of consumer protection laws. The CMA worked with platforms like Instagram to implement measures ensuring that users clearly disclose paid promotions, aiming to protect consumers from misleading advertising.
https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/378/digital-culture-media-and-sport-committee/news/170678/influencer-culture-mps-call-for-action-on-advertising-and-employment-rules-to-protect-children-and-online-performers - The UK Parliament's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee called for action on advertising and employment rules to protect children and online performers. The committee highlighted the rapid expansion of influencer culture, noting that the growth has exposed regulatory gaps, particularly around advertising disclosure and protection for children. It recommended strengthening employment law and advertising regulations to address these issues, emphasizing the need for legislation to protect child influencers from exploitation and to ensure compliance with advertising standards.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/may/09/uk-must-protect-child-influencers-exploitation-social-media - This article reports on the UK government's call to introduce legislation to protect child social media influencers from exploitation. The rise of influencers has created new opportunities in the UK's creative industries but has also brought risks, particularly for child influencers. The government is urged to address gaps in child labour and performance regulations, including provisions on working hours, conditions, and the protection of earnings, to prevent exploitation in the booming influencer market.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-61347936 - The BBC reports on MPs calling for more protection for social media influencers and their followers, particularly children. The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee highlighted that the growth of online culture has outpaced current employment and advertising regulations. The committee's report details how some child influencers are at risk of exploitation and warns that influencers are not complying with advertising rules, emphasizing the need for legislative action to address these issues.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 9

Notes: The narrative refers to a current parliamentary inquiry and recent viral trends involving social media influencers, indicating fresh and ongoing concerns. There are no indications of outdated references such as changed roles or events from the distant past. No evidence of recycled news or press-release style repetition was found, supporting a high freshness score.

Quotes check

Score: 8

Notes: The article includes direct paraphrased concerns from Labour MP Carolyn Harris about UV dangers and misinformation but does not present verbatim quotes or earliest source citations. The statements attributed align with the MP’s known roles, suggesting original commentary in the context of the inquiry. No direct quote origins were found online, which may indicate original sourcing.

Source reliability

Score: 7

Notes: The narrative originates from a prominent UK news provider known for wide reach but mixed reliability depending on the subject. While generally credible for reporting current events, the publication is tabloid-style and may have sensationalist tendencies, so some caution is warranted. The involvement of reputable actors such as UK Parliament committees and the British Beauty Council adds credibility to the information presented.

Plausability check

Score: 9

Notes: The described concerns about misinformation on social media regarding sunscreen and related health risks are plausible and consistent with known issues around influencer marketing and regulatory challenges. The parliamentary inquiry and calls for regulatory reform align with recent developments in online consumer protection and public health advocacy. Lack of direct empirical data does not undermine plausibility.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative is timely and addresses credible, ongoing public health concerns related to misinformation from influential social media personalities. It includes knowledgeable commentary from a Labour MP and references formal parliamentary investigations that corroborate the issue's significance. Although direct quote sourcing is limited and the news outlet is a tabloid, the overall information is plausible, fresh, and consistent with observed regulatory trends, warranting a high confidence passing assessment.

social media
public health
sunscreen misinformation
influencer regulation
parliamentary inquiry