[Being an influential doctor in 2026: what are the legal guidelines?]

Health influencers are increasingly present on social media, with around 150,000 healthcare professionals involved in France. Their stated goal is to democratize medical information, in a context where 61% of internet users admit to being influenced by this content. In response to this boom, the legal framework has gradually been structured and relaxed. At the same time, ethical regulations remain central. While the principle that medicine cannot be practiced as a business remains firmly established, a notable change has taken place since 2020: doctors can now communicate, provided that the information is accurate, scientifically based, cautious, and devoid of any promotional purpose. The French National Medical Council is exercising increased vigilance and published a charter for responsible content creators in 2025. Physician influencers must therefore reconcile legal and ethical requirements by clearly distinguishing between health information and advertising, ensuring transparency of financial links, and avoiding any commercial incentives. This vigilance could intensify in the future, in the context of European and international discussions on the regulation of online health content.