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A recent investigation by the BBC has found that Steven Bartlett, the host of popular podcast Diary of a CEO, is promoting misinformation about health issues. In an analysis of 15 health-related podcast episodes, the BBC found an average of fourteen false claims that could be harmful to health based on expert opinions. These included claims that cancer can be treated by a ketogenic diet rather than conventional medical treatments, downplaying the success of evidence-based medication, and promoting anti-vaccine conspiracies during the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr Bartlett, who has no health background, regularly posted these episodes on his YouTube channel, which has over seven million subscribers.
Despite warnings from experts about the danger of promoting false health claims, Flight Studio, the podcast production company owned by Mr Bartlett, insisted that guests were offered “freedom of expression”. Guests were presented as leading experts in their fields, with little to no challenge to their claims. Moreover, the podcast’s popularity has increased since last year since Mr Bartlett had shifted his focus to health issues.
Podcasts in the UK are not regulated by the media regulator Ofcom. So while Mr Bartlett has not broken any broadcasting rules, his promotion of harmful misinformation about health issues is very concerning. Experts have pointed out that these false claims could cause people to lose faith in conventional medicine, thereby risking their health by following unproven advice or false claims.
Mr Bartlett’s financial stakes in health and wellness companies have also raised questions about his choice of guests. Founders of Huel, another company owned by Mr Bartlett, have been invited as guests on The Diary of a CEO podcast. Furthermore, Mr Bartlett has invested in “Ear Seeds”, acupuncture beads that falsely claim to cure chronic fatigue condition myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). This investment reportedly influenced his choice to back this company on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den show, according to the BBC investigation.
In conclusion, Mr Bartlett’s podcast is a platform that reaches a vast audience worldwide. His promotion of misinformation regarding health issues could be dangerous for people’s health. It is crucial to fact-check misinformation and hold media platforms accountable for their content. While podcasts are not regulated like other media, all broadcasters must acknowledge the power they hold and use this responsibly. Airing disproven misinformation is harmful since it can create distrust of conventional medicine. It remains to be seen whether Mr Bartlett will change his approach towards health-related content in the future, but for now, it is critical that people remain vigilant about the issue of health misinformation in modern media
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