8 out of 10 videos about mental health on TikTok are fake

When the social media platform TikTok merged with Musical.ly in 2018, it brought millions of teenagers who enjoyed creating dance routines to music into its space. Suddenly, they found themselves on a new platform. With new rules and open to all kinds of topics, the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic boosted this social network, making it the fastest-growing and most used by teenagers in Spain, with 16.6 million adult users in Spain, plus all those who can create a profile from the age of 13. Young Spaniards spent an average of 56 minutes a day on social media in 2022, with TikTok being the platform of choice for most. They not only watch videos from profiles they follow or that the platform itself suggests, but it has also become their primary source of information.

This overexposure in a medium where messages, stories, testimonials, memes, and other formats are shared through short videos makes it very difficult to distinguish whether what we are seeing is true or not. The very dynamics of the platform, with an endless succession of videos that advance at the touch of our index finger, leaves our critical thinking skills at a minimum.

The concern for mental health , very present in all social spheres over the last two years, is also evident on social media. We've seen how this content has become a trending topic, with TikTokers openly discussing their psychological problems and mental disorders. While this might initially seem positive, as it's a way to raise awareness and normalize these disorders, it can ultimately have the opposite effect, since much of the content can generate a lot of confusion. It's important to remember that behind a trending hashtag like "mental health," there are also countless profiles simply seeking visibility and relevance by riding the wave of interest, but doing so with opportunistic, unreliable, or outright false information.

All of this can cause a lot of confusion during adolescence, a time of change because teenagers don't filter the messages they receive, especially if they come from peers with whom they see themselves reflected. It's common to see videos of teenagers self-diagnosing based on feelings or information they read online or on social media.

TikTok, a network plagued by unreliable information

The American company PlushCare conducted an investigation to detect the quality and veracity of the messages contained in TikTok videos regarding mental health topics and recommendations.

The analysis was based on the hashtag #MentalHealth, which has over 69 million visits as of the writing of this article, making it highly relevant content for both creators and users.

The most significant results of the study are the following:

• 83.7% of the videos contain misinformation and 14.2% contain potentially harmful topics.
• 100% of the information provided about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder was false. In the case of bipolar disorder, the figure was 94.1%, and 90.3% in the case of videos about depression.
• Only 9% of content creators on TikTok had a relevant qualification, while the remaining 91% lacked medical training to help people in each of the processes.

The authors of the study state that consuming inaccurate mental health information on social media can present significant risks, such as wasting time reading or watching content with advice that doesn't suit your needs, spending money on products promoted by influencers that haven't been proven to work, and, most importantly, delaying seeking professional help.

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How to recognize reliable information:

1. Pay close attention to who is behind the account and what they say about themselves. Reliable content creators should include their profession in their bios so you can assess their qualifications. Labels like "coach" or "expert" are too vague and don't demonstrate any expertise in giving advice.
2. All mental disorders are different , so keep in mind that experiences related to them vary from person to person. Never take a personal experience, even when discussing symptoms or treatments, as absolute truth.
3. Avoid profiles that attempt to diagnose people or approach mental disorders from that sole perspective. Only mental health professionals can make a diagnosis through specialized care processes. Never through a screen.
4. Check the video comments. If you find many comments from mental health professionals contradicting the claims shared, then you should be suspicious of the validity of that information.
5. Remember that the videos you see on TikTok may be edited, contain filters or sound effects , so always maintain a critical eye towards what you see.
6. There are no magic formulas in mental health, and things don't work the same for everyone. Be wary of profiles that oversimplify solutions and treatments or try to sell you a product. Remember that both diets and medications should only be prescribed and managed by qualified professionals.

Remember that health information on social media is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. For this reason, it is essential to consult a qualified professional before making any decisions about your mental health.