What detrimental effects has TikTok had on our comprehension of certain mental illnesses?
Recently, TikTok has seen a spike in content about mental health issues, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which has garnered millions of views and become a trending topic. However, because it contradicts accepted medical standards and scientific facts, a large portion of this content has been shown to be false and misleading.
A recent study published in the journal PLOS One showed that more than half of the claims about ADHD symptoms in popular TikTok videos did not meet clinical diagnostic criteria for the disorder or approved professional treatment recommendations. But even more alarming, the study found that even participants with a previous ADHD diagnosis had difficulty distinguishing between credible and misleading information.
The study also revealed that nearly half of the TikTok creators whose videos were analyzed were using the app to promote products, such as fidget spinners to relieve boredom, or services such as ADHD coaching sessions, none of whom were licensed mental health professionals.
This finding highlights a profound problem related to the quality of information received by users, especially young people, who constitute the largest portion of the app's audience.
“The lack of specifics in the videos is concerning,” said Vasilia Karasava, a doctoral student in clinical psychology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and lead author of the study. “For example, when creators talk about difficulty concentrating, they often overlook the fact that this symptom is not specific to ADHD but can also be a symptom of other mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety.”
Social Media Platforms and Mental Health: Between Awareness and Misinformation
The proliferation of social media platforms has increased access to information related to mental health, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a neurobehavioral disorder that significantly affects attention, motor activity, and impulsivity. Current estimates indicate that between 3% and 7% of adults worldwide have been diagnosed with this disorder.
Social media platforms are unique in their focus on the direct experiences of individuals suffering from these disorders. These platforms allow individuals with mental health issues to share their personal experiences with others, which may contribute to reducing social stigma and increasing awareness of widespread mental health issues. This differs from traditional sources of psychoeducation, which often rely on theoretical information.
However, the lack of effective oversight of the quality of content circulating on these platforms significantly increases the risk of misinformation spreading, which could lead to incorrect diagnoses or inappropriate treatment approaches.
TikTok and Mental Health Misinformation:
The app has seen massive growth over the past five years, with more than 50 million daily active users spending over an hour browsing its content. Statistics confirm TikTok's influence on information search behavior. A recent survey revealed that two in five Americans prefer TikTok over other traditional search engines, including Google, particularly among Gen Z and millennials, with 64% and 49% of respondents saying they prefer it, respectively.
TikTok provides an interactive environment where users search for information about mental health, share their personal experiences, and connect with others who struggle with similar issues. In fact, mental health content, particularly videos related to autism and ADHD, is among the top 10 most-viewed health-related hashtags on the app.
However, it is important to emphasize that social media platforms like TikTok are not designed to provide effective psychoeducation to their users. Furthermore, the lack of fact-checking mechanisms for content circulating on these platforms increases the risk of inaccurate or misleading information being disseminated.
A recent study revealed the seriousness of this problem, finding that 41% of the most popular TikTok videos offering psychoeducation about autism were inaccurate, and 32% contained exaggerations and distortions of the facts.
Details of the recent study and its results:
A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia aimed to assess the accuracy of information about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on TikTok, as well as analyze the impact of this content on viewers' perceptions of this mental disorder.
The study was divided into two main parts:
- Part 1: Focused on analyzing the characteristics of common content about ADHD and assessing the extent to which this content aligns with clinical diagnostic criteria and treatment recommendations provided by mental health professionals.
- Part 2: Focused on understanding young people's perceptions of TikTok content related to the disorder, psychologists' evaluation of this content, and its impact on users' perceptions of the disorder.
A diverse group of individuals participated in the study, providing information about their diagnosis of ADHD or their belief that they had not been diagnosed with the disorder. Demographic data, diagnosis history, and symptoms were collected from the participants. After an initial screening process, participants were divided into three groups:
- Non-ADHD group (224 participants).
- Group with formal ADHD (198 participants).
- Self-diagnosis group (421 participants).
Each participant was instructed to watch five of the best and five of the worst TikTok videos about the disorder. Participants were then asked to rate the videos based on the ratings given to them by the psychologists. Participants also had the opportunity to watch videos provided by the psychologists in the first part of the study, explaining why some videos received higher ratings than others, or to avoid them. After watching the experts' videos, participants were asked to rate the TikTok content again and report any changes in their perceptions.
The study revealed interesting results: More than 52% of videos claiming to describe ADHD symptoms were inaccurate and included general information that could apply to normal human experiences. This suggests that some TikTok content creators prefer reaching a broad audience over providing accurate and specialized information.
Participants diagnosed with ADHD were also found to view TikTok content related to the disorder more frequently than those without the disorder. This may be due to their perception that the content is relevant to their lives or to TikTok's algorithms filtering content based on users' interests.
Psychologists have confirmed the low accuracy of information in TikTok videos, which is consistent with previous reports from mental health professionals who consider such content misleading.
Vasilia Karasava expressed concern about the impact of misinformation on TikTok on young people, saying, "The last thing we want is to discourage people from expressing their feelings and experiences or from seeking out supportive communities online. But at the same time, there is a real risk that individuals will self-diagnose conditions that don't apply to them, thereby depriving themselves of the help they actually need."
The results of this new study are consistent with those of a previous study conducted in 2022, which also analyzed 100 popular TikTok videos about ADHD and found that half of them contained misinformation.
“The data are very concerning,” said Stephen P. Hinshaw, a psychology professor and ADHD expert at the University of California, Berkeley, who was not involved in either study. “Because the themes presented in social media videos may resonate with many viewers, accurate diagnosis requires access to specialists, time, and financial resources.”
This underscores the importance of obtaining a diagnosis for mental health conditions from qualified specialists and not relying on information circulating on social media platforms.
Impact of content on public awareness:
Researchers have warned that young people who frequently watch TikTok videos are more likely to overestimate their ADHD symptoms and may even recommend inaccurate content to others. Experts have emphasized the need for mental health professionals to participate in these discussions on social media platforms to ensure that reliable, evidence-based sources reach the public.
It appears that the extent of misinformation is not random but rather related to the nature of the content being shared. The study revealed that nearly half of the content creators analyzed were using TikTok to promote products such as fidget spinners or services for managing symptoms of the disorder. Interestingly, none of them were licensed mental health professionals, raising questions about the credibility of the information they provided.
Recommendations for users:
- Caution: Be careful when consuming mental health-related content on TikTok or any other social media app.
- Verify sources: Verify the credibility of information from reliable sources, such as the websites of accredited medical institutions.
- Consult a specialist : Consult a mental health professional to obtain an appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
- Conscious sharing: If you have ADHD, share your experiences consciously and responsibly, making sure to consult with specialists.