A clinician’s guide to social media

When does a post become a professional liability?

When healthcare professionals use social media, irrespective of the platform used, they must balance professional and personal views with regulatory guidelines and within  boundaries.

A quick look at social media usage worldwide (in 2025) shows that there are approximately 5.3 billion global users and 54.8 million users in the UK (79% of the population). IN the UK, YouTube leads with 54.8 million users, followed by LinkedIn (45M), Facebook (38.3M), Instagram (33M), and TikTok (25M) users.  Globally, people spend an average of two hours daily on social media.

Given this wide and diverse audience there are benefits for clinicians to engaging with the world though social media platforms. 

Clinicians may want to embrace social media to promote health education, to debunk myths, for professional networking, disseminating research with peers and the public, and policy advocacy. It also allows for a human connection to build trust with prospective patient, particularly in the private sector.

The legal and regulatory landscape

Regulators like the GMC, NMC, HCPC and GDC expect clinicians to maintain patient confidentiality, act with integrity, and maintain clear boundaries by avoiding public consultations.

When sharing information that can identify a patient or about a patient-centric story or images, verbal consent is never sufficient, explicit written consent is recommended. Such consent should specify how the information is shared, where, for how long, and for what purpose.

Things to keep in mind when crafting your posts

• Patient info can lead to legal consequences if the patient can still be identified.
• Disparaging remarks about patients, colleagues, or institutions can tarnish a professional image.
• Promoting unverified health claims or conspiracy theories violates duty to evidence-based practice.
• Clinicians have rights to free speech like everyone else in the UK, but as regulated professionals, they must balance these rights with their responsibilities. Always ask: “Would I be comfortable if the media, my trust, or a regulator read this?”.
• Avoid posting while emotional.
• Disclose financial or commercial interests where applicable (e.g., adding “sponsored post” to a post).

And some more considerations around social media in general.

• Anonymous or pseudonymous accounts can still be traced via digital forensics.
• Accepting friend requests from patients or giving medical advice via direct messages (DMs) can be problematic and blur professional boundaries.
• Maintaining separate personal and professional accounts can help create clearer boundaries but you will still be liable for what you post on both.

Digital literacy is becoming a core clinical skill. 84% of healthcare leaders believe it is essential, and 92% of patients under 40 use social media to research health conditions.

Post wisely, set clear boundaries, and use your professional voice thoughtfully. Contact Medical Defense Shield for help with tricky situations.