Not All Advice is Created Equal

“No enemy is worse than bad advice.”  — Sophocles

Opinions are everywhere. Social media has made it all too easy to blast opinions or unsolicited advice to endless masses, often devoid of context or facts. This leads each of us to being constantly bombarded by advice. While input is certainly useful to help make decisions in life, not all advice is created equal.

Recently, it has become fashionable to share extreme views regardless of whether or not they are based on facts. People are shown to be more attracted to political views that are inline, but more extreme, than their own¹. Extreme views lead to extreme advice, with no validation of credentials. However, the hard truth is that most advice online is bad. In fact, 83.7% of mental health advice on TikTok is misleading and only 9% of those advising on the platform have a relevant qualification in the respective field². On the other hand, receiving good advice as been shown to improve confidence and brain activity³. Also, people who seek input from others are seen as more competent than those who do not⁴.

If advice has a positive affect, obviously it is important to understand the good vs. the bad. While not fool proof, implementing some simple steps can help. First, ask yourself whether the individual has ulterior motives, such as simply gaining likes or trying to sabotage your relationship. Second, are they an expert? For example, only get medical diagnoses from a licensed doctor. These are some of many reflection questions⁵, but in our opinion the most important. In serious situations, be sure to verify any and all advice via a licensed professional before proceeding.

The object isn’t to never ask for advice. Seeking guidance is a great way to ensure the best decisions possible. Instead, be able to discern the good from the bad. Always remember to perform due diligence; taking advice from a life coach whose life is a complete disaster probably isn’t the best strategy. Finally, be aware when you are the giver of advice. Be mindful of how and when to provide input, because when done correctly, both parties benefit⁶.

Action: Evaluate all advice you receive this week (solicited and unsolicited). Be very conscious of any advice you provide to others.

Further Reading:

1. Homophily and acrophily as drivers of political segregation
2. How Accurate is Mental Health Advice on TikTok? [Infographic]
3. Neural activity tracking identity and confidence in social information
4. Smart People Ask for (My) Advice: Seeking Advice Boosts Perceptions of Competence
5. How To Discern Good Advice From Bad Advice
6. The Art of Giving and Receiving Advice