Netflix’s new scripted series Apple Cider Vinegar stars Katilyn Dever (Booksmart) as Belle Gibson, an Australian cancer survivor who turns her story — and health-conscious recipes — into an online wellness empire. It’s a glittery, social media-studded addition to the streaming services’ breadth of scammer stories, like Inventing Anna and Dirty John, both of which rely on a key detail for their success: They’re based on a true story. And Apple Cider Vinegar is no different.

While social media’s relationship with the wellness industry is commonplace at this point,...