iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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David Shaywitz @dshaywitz.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Most intrstng aspect of @erictopol.bsky.social's new pcast w @debscohen.bsky.social =insight into pervasiveness of influencer cx on health/wellness: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d... .Less ideal=strong suggestion that "prevention" generally $-driven scam vs potentially rational approach to health.

podcasts.apple.com

Deborah Cohen: The Wellness-Industrial Complex

Podcast Episode · Ground Truths · August 23 · 59m

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Deb Cohen @debscohen.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Perimenopause is real and HRT can be transformative. But an $18bn market is growing around claims that often run ahead of the evidence. My @thetimes.com investigation looks at the gaps in research, the potential harms of over-treatment and misdiagnosis and what women are not being told.

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Media Storm @mediastormpod.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

🌩️ NEW EPISODE 🌩️ 🎙️Bad Science: Faux facts, health fads and influencers ❓How does the media turn science into clickbait? 👂Hear from the leading expert on the wellness industrial complex, @debscohen.bsky.social ⬇️ LISTEN

open.spotify.com

Bad Science: Faux facts, health fads and influencers

Media Storm · Episode

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Deb Cohen @debscohen.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Totally chuffed "Bad Influence" has been shortlisted for @royalsociety.org Trivedi Science Book prize. Chair of judges Mike Benton said: “This book is both urgent and contemporary, providing much-needed insight into a currently unregulated area of health.” Congrats to everyone shortlisted

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Deb Cohen @debscohen.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Thank you for inviting me! It was a rural privilege

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Andrew Lee @andrewleedr.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Day 1 of the 5 Nations Health Protection Conference ends with a really thought provoking and interesting keynote talk by the amazing investigative journalist and author Dr Deborah Cohen on social media, AI and the commodification of health. @debscohen.bsky.social @5-nations.bsky.social 1/

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Deb Cohen @debscohen.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Looks like "Bad Influence" has made it onto the parliamentary reading list.... Chuffed to it cited during a Health and Social Care Sekect Committee discussion on direct-to-consumer advertising of GLP-1 drugs, influencer marketing and regulation. Loads more to say on this!

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Melissa @melissadando.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Thanks to @jessasatomp.bsky.social & @joshfg.bsky.social for hosting such an important Parliamentary roundtable on health misinformation and @debscohen.bsky.social's book "Bad Influence". I was delighted to attend, it was the perfect way to wrap up @wcrf.org's #CancerPreventionActionWeek for 2026!

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Raffael Heiss @raffaelheiss.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Excellent BMJ investigation by Deborah Cohen on how social media is importing US-style prescription drug marketing into the UK and Europe. Delighted to contribute a few thoughts. Worth a read. 👇

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Deb Cohen @debscohen.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Prescription drug ads to consumers are banned in UK & EU. But those rules were written for TV, & newspapers - not Insta, TikTok & YouTube. Social media has enabled importation of US style ads - as we've see with the GLP1s. And don't know the cost. Me for @bmj.com www.bmj.com/content/393/...

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Deb Cohen @debscohen.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Chuffed "Bad Influence" is one of the @financialtimes.com best summer books. Who'd have thought evidence and critical thinking were beach reads?!

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Deb Cohen @debscohen.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Delight that my and @mgtmccartney.bsky.social @bmj.com investigation into Our Future Health is a finalist in @absw.bsky.social awards. Thanks to @rebeccacoombes.bsky.social and team for the encouragement and edit. And a big congrats to the other finalists.

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Greg Fell @felly500.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Oh I'd missed this first time Thanks Deb for pointing it out Egregious graph crimes!!

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Deb Cohen @debscohen.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Pretty much since I did my journalism degree- coughs- many moons ago

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Deb Cohen @debscohen.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

We've used them for years in journalism. They're really useful for tone, pace change, breaking up complex info etc.

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Helen Pearson @helenpearson.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

You get two science authors for the price of one when @debscohen.bsky.social and I speak next week at LSE ⬇️ (In fact it's free!) My book: how a quiet revolution in evidence has reshaped the way we make decisions Deb's book: the forces working against evidence now Sign up! 2 June bit.ly/41LH2CG

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LSE Health Policy @lsehealthpolicy.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

LSE Health hosts @helenpearson.bsky.social & @debscohen.bsky.social on 2 June for a discussion on evidence, medicine and policy — followed by audience Q&A, drinks reception and book signing. 📍 Wolfson Theatre, LSE | 6.30pm 🎟️ 🔗 bit.ly/41LH2CG

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Deb Cohen @debscohen.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

So you overlooked all the other bits of fantastic journalism to be incredulous at one old example. It doesn't take you much to make you outraged

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Deb Cohen @debscohen.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

As I said...I can give more examples. Recent ones. From the same paper. From the award winning Insight Team.

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Peter Tennant @pwgtennant.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

People on all sides of the political spectrum need and deserve access to high-quality scientific evidence. I therefore believe in a pluralistic approach to science communication activity, regardless of my own politics.

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Jeff Greene @jeffgreene.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Excellent example of why expertise matters. When you find experts who make good arguments that help you better understand your world: follow them, support them, and promote them. @pwgtennant.bsky.social @debscohen.bsky.social

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Deb Cohen @debscohen.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

And therein is the problem, you've dismissed views as right wing dogwhistles rather to try to engage. I reported on Brexit (I was very much a remain supporter) but I could understand why brexiteers dug their heels in over the dismissive arrogant attitude of remain saying they'd taught them a lesson

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Deb Cohen @debscohen.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Neil Ferguson was on it, Devi, John Edmunds, Anders Tegnell...I could go on were all on it. I have done stories for them exposing Zoe, dodgy Alzheimer's clinics & critical pieces looking at the Rx. If you want dodgy publications look no further than the Lancet and MMR and Macchiarini publications..

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Deb Cohen @debscohen.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Telegraph...MPs expenses, David Walliams, Philip Green...Sunday Times...thalidomide, cash for questions, fifa corruption...any more??

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Deb Cohen @debscohen.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Chuffed to be speaking at the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition alongside @kevinfong.bsky.social

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Deb Cohen @debscohen.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Sensible comment. Some of the worst stuff I have seen comes out of left leaning papers. Some of the best journalism has come out of right leaning papers. To only read one perspective is part of why we have such polarising bubbles

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Peter Tennant @pwgtennant.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

You may have seen this graph in the FT, which claims to show birth rates plunging since the introduction to smartphone. Except it doesn't. Read my short piece with @debscohen.bsky.social on some of the problems with this graph of juicy cherries! unherd.com/newsroom/are...

FT graphic by John Burn-Murdoch entitled 'could digital media be affecting birth rates?'

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LSE Health Policy @lsehealthpolicy.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

At a time when trust in institutions is under strain, the question of how we know what works in health has rarely mattered more. #LSEHealth hosts @helenpearson.bsky.social & @debscohen.bsky.social on 2 June. 🎟️ 🔗 bit.ly/41LH2CG

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LSE Health Policy @lsehealthpolicy.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

How do we translate evidence into practice — and what happens when it collides with political reality? @helenpearson.bsky.social & @debscohen.bsky.social discuss at #LSEHealth on 2 June. Audience Q&A and book signing to follow. 🔗 bit.ly/41LH2CG

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LSE Health Policy @lsehealthpolicy.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

NEW: #LSEHealth welcomes @helenpearson.bsky.social, author of Beyond Belief, in conversation with @debscohen.bsky.social on how medicine embraced evidence-based thinking — and what the future holds. 📍 LSE | 2 June | 6.30pm 🎟️ 🔗 bit.ly/41LH2CG

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Deb Cohen @debscohen.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

Chuffed to be speaking at this Royal Society of Med event w Marion Nestle & Naomi Oreskes who brilliantly exposed food & tobacco playbooks I’ll be exploring the influencer playbook-- inc rise of medfluencers who have drifted from sensible advice into being the purveyors of nutritional snake oil.

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Deb Cohen @debscohen.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Influencers deploy complex scientific language about circadian rhythms or dopamine regulation to sell 21st-century snake oil" My latest for @lbc.co.uk www.lbc.co.uk/article/soci...

lbc.co.uk

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 17/03/2026

In a special recording at this month's Nuffield Trust Summit, the @bmj.com podcast explored the challenge of tackling health misinformation. Joining @kamranabbasi.bsky.social on the expert panel: @debscohen.bsky.social, Kamila Hawthorne, and Nnenna Osuji. Listen here: buff.ly/H9QCuWb

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Deb Cohen @debscohen.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Oh amazing!! I'd love to hear what you think

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Dr Jo Maher NHS GP @drjomaher.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Thank you @cwjoneschris.bsky.social for my Mother’s Day gift, can’t wait to read @debscohen.bsky.social

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 28/02/2026

In a world of short attention spans, strong views and increasingly varied sources of information, should we be concerned about how we care for the nation’s health? Our #ntsummit panel will dive headfirst into the debate. Register to watch on Thursday: buff.ly/RSiCok6

9:30am on Thursday 5 March, the Nuffield Trust Summit will feature a panel discussion: Is polarisation bad for our health? The panel will explore how growing political and social polarisation affects health outcomes, public debate and the ability to build consensus around evidence-based policy. Follow the link to register for the livestream.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 28/02/2026

For what promises to be a fascinating discussion about polarisation, health policy and science, we’ll hear from @debscohen.bsky.social, Samira Ben Omar and Mark Henderson. Chaired by our Director of Communications and External Affairs, @leonoramerry.bsky.social. #ntsummit buff.ly/RSiCok6

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Peter Tennant @pwgtennant.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

This recent RCT of an "AI stethoscope" claims the technology "shows promise" for diagnosing cardiovascular conditions. It does not. It is a textbook example of the risks of conducting unprincipled 'per protocol analyses'. Once again, peer review at a major medical journal has failed. 🧵 1/

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Deb Cohen @debscohen.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Before made FDA head, Marty Makary told me of “fierce lobbying effort” behind “early cancer detection”. “But is there net public health benefit or harm?” At time, he'd seen “no substantial evidence” Galleri improved this. Will the NHS trial change that? www.bmj.com/content/392/...

bmj.com

Galleri cancer tests: Controversial NHS trial fails to meet key goal

A controversial blood test that promises to detect multiple cancers in their early stages failed to meet a key trial endpoint of a significant reduction in stage III-IV cases. Investors in the US com...

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Deb Cohen @debscohen.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Before made FDA head, Marty Makary told me of “fierce lobbying effort” behind “early cancer detection”. “But is there net public health benefit or harm?” At the time, he'd seen “no substantial evidence” Galleri improved public health. Will NHS trial change that? www.bmj.com/content/392/...

bmj.com

Galleri cancer tests: Controversial NHS trial fails to meet key goal

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Deb Cohen @debscohen.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

A few years ago, Grail launched NHS trial of Galleri 50 cancer test, despite concerns from experts about its sensitivity as @mgtmccartney.bsky.social & I reported for @bmj.com & the BBC. Today investors were told main endpoint- a statistically significant drop in Stage III–IV cancers was not met

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Medlife Crisis (Rohin) @medcrisis.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

This is my friend! You should read this book, it’s really good AND as an added topical bonus, I make a cameo to criticise Peter Attia! Haha, excellent timing 😂 Honestly it really is a corker, if you are interested in the whole murky world of online medical influencers, it’s a great overview

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The Economist @economist.com · 08/02/2026

The benefits of using the internet to ask medical questions are clear. Yet Deborah Cohen, author of “Bad Influence”, is not convinced technological progress is making people healthier

econ.st

Want to know what’s wrong with you?

“Bad Influence” argues that separating medical fact from fiction is becoming harder online

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Dr Jo Maher NHS GP @drjomaher.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Can’t wait to read Bad Influence by Deb, meanwhile I recommend listening to @bmj.com podcast. Where commercial meets social determinants of health, it doesn’t go well. We see this play out each day in practice, undermining #NHS & its practitioners. No easy answers, recognition 1st step.

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