More than half of top 100 mental health TikToks contain misinformation, study finds
Psychologists, psychiatrists and academic experts analysed whether the top 100 TikTok videos posted under the #mentalhealthtips hashtag contained misinformation. Photo by Antonio Guillem / Shutterstock
The Guardian
More than half of all the top trending videos offering mental health advice on TikTok contain misinformation, a Guardian investigation has found.
People are increasingly turning to social media for mental health support, yet research has revealed that many influencers are peddling misinformation, including misused therapeutic language, “quick fix” solutions and false claims.
Those seeking help are confronted with dubious advice, such as eating an orange in the shower to reduce anxiety; the promotion of supplements with a limited evidence base for alleviating anxiety, such as saffron, magnesium glycinate and holy basil; methods to heal trauma within an hour; and guidance presenting normal emotional experiences as a sign of borderline personality disorder or abuse.
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