Doctor Mike and Mel Robbins compare online health searches to rigged slot machines: algorithms feed you answers designed to sell products, not inform you. They warn that medical advice without full transparency exploits people for profit, even as they support genuine medical innovation.
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Opening your phone these days and searching for a diagnosis or symptom is literally like shaking a Magic 8 Ball, where no matter what question you ask, depending on which echo chamber you find yourself in, depending on who's digitally targeting the audience and demographic you're in, you're going to get a different answer. So it's even more nefarious than the traditional Magic 8 Ball. I think this is more honest because at least this is a little triangle-shaped thing in here that has an equal chance at landing on both sides. But in real life, there's someone messing and pre-programming the Magic 8 Ball in order to make themselves money. And that's where it gets really scary.
It's such a great visual because you're right, it is almost like pulling a slot machine or shaking that Magic 8 Ball. Depending upon who's targeting you, you're going to get a different response. And then based on what you searched, you're going to get served up more information, likely from people that want to sell you something or have you sign up for something.
Correct. And what's funny is it sounds like I'm coming down on people making money or being financially successful. I am not. I am only doing that when people are doing it in lieu of giving people true informed consent. If they start hiding that informed consent or giving partial information in order to make a profit. I want revolutionaries to create new products, new surgeries, new medications to cure conditions, to give a chance to someone who's having a heart attack. But I don't want it to be recommended without informed consent. I want people to be making the choice on good information.
