Jakarta, ThedailyID — Health experts warned that self-diagnosis habits among young Indonesians have started reaching worrying levels despite increasing public education and internet access.
Many young people now rely on social media, online forums, and short-form videos to identify illnesses instead of consulting medical professionals.
Experts said the trend has become more common among Gen Z and millennials, especially because health information spreads rapidly across digital platforms.
Psychologists and doctors also linked the phenomenon to rising anxiety, fear of hospitals, and concerns about medical costs.
Some young people reportedly avoid professional check-ups because they fear receiving serious diagnoses or negative health results.
Meanwhile, others believe internet searches provide enough information to understand their symptoms.
Health experts warned that excessive self-diagnosis could lead to misinformation, delayed treatment, and worsening medical conditions.
They also noted that many online health contents oversimplify complex symptoms and encourage people to assume the worst.
According to reports, the phenomenon has surpassed warning thresholds discussed by the World Health Organization regarding digital health misinformation and public anxiety.
Doctors emphasized that symptoms often overlap between minor illnesses and serious diseases. Therefore, self-diagnosis without medical examination can become dangerous.
Mental health professionals also observed that constant exposure to medical content online may trigger health anxiety or cyberchondria.
Cyberchondria describes a condition where excessive online symptom searches increase fear and stress about personal health.
Experts encouraged the public to use online health information only as an initial reference rather than a final diagnosis.
They also urged young people to seek professional consultation whenever symptoms persist or worsen.
