By Lisa Fields
Many teens and young adults rely on social media to connect with others, confirm their beliefs, and learn about everything from hairstyles to health conditions. But much of what people share on social media isn’t necessarily factual.
Recent research shows a rise in misinformation about ADHD and mental health conditions on social media, and that concerns many health professionals. Videos about ADHD and mental health conditions that are posted to TikTok are among the worst offenders.
TikTok videos are short and often provide little substance, says Corey H. Basch, EdD, MPH, professor and department chair of public health at William Paterson University in Wayne, N.J. Because of this, information reaching viewers is often only surface-level or missing important details altogether, she says.
“(And) it is important to consider that TikTok is driven by algorithms and that adolescents are often unaware that there is an echo-chamber effect created by the repetition and amplification of videos that have a shared narrative,” Basch says.
Most ADHD content on social media comes from non-experts
Non-experts create most of the information about ADHD and mental health that’s posted on social media. This includes teens, young adults and influencers, not healthcare professionals. Yet many young people automatically believe that what they’re viewing on TikTok is true.
“Teens have been conditioned to immediately seek information from social media apps, versus older generations who utilized libraries, encyclopedias, teachers and a variety of other knowledgeable resources,” says Lina Haji, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist and mental health counselor based in Miami. “While this may be useful for some life questions, seeking mental health information from social media apps can be extremely dangerous.”
Non-experts are also sharing TikTok videos detailing their personal experiences with ADHD, depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions. Young people are drawn to these posts.
“Social media provides a somewhat unfiltered opportunity for consumers to post content on topics of their choosing,” Basch says. “These videos largely come in the form of raising awareness and decreasing stigma on a peer-to-peer level, [but] not all ADHD or mental health-related videos have adequate scientific backing.”
Research confirms that ADHD misinformation on social media is widespread
Canadian researchers evaluated the accuracy of information in the top 100 TikTok videos with the hashtag #adhd. Each was viewed more than 2.8 million times. The researchers found that more than half of the videos (52%) contained misleading information. Only 11% were created by healthcare practitioners, including licensed therapists and psychologists.
According to a study published in the journal JMIR Formative Research that Basch co-authored, healthcare providers created only 1% of 100 TikTok videos using the hashtag #mentalhealth. These videos received over 1.3 billion views in total.
“It is rare for people to see medical professionals in an entertaining and non-traditional setting; this is especially true for social media platforms like TikTok,” Basch says. “Reasons for this can range from healthcare professionals not having the time and energy it takes to reach the general public on social media to concerns about public image.”
Why comparatively few health professionals post on social media
Mallory Grimste, a licensed clinical social worker and mental health therapist based in Woodbridge, Conn., specializes in treating teens. She has produced over 250 YouTube videos addressing depression, anxiety, ADHD, and related subjects. But she says that few of her mental health therapist peers share their knowledge on social media.
“It is slim pickings to find other professionals on there,” says Grimste.
She notes that most therapists don’t have the skills to create social media videos, and many aren’t interested in learning these skills. Also, some medical experts are reluctant to post online content that could be misinterpreted by members of the public.
Grimste adds: “Many therapists and health professionals only get paid if they are seeing clients,” she says. “It can cost them a lot of money and time to make videos for free.”
How misinformation about ADHD on social media can be harmful
Mental health experts worry about the combination of social media and ADHD because many young people take the information they see at face value.
“Many teens have yet to develop the skills to evaluate the accuracy of information,” Basch says. “A great concern is that adolescents may be making faulty self-diagnoses and treatment plans in the absence of professional insight. (And) there is the possibility of encountering malicious communications that intentionally spread inaccurate information, encourage harmful behaviors and trigger those who are struggling.”
Because TikTok videos are widely viewed, a little misinformation can have a big impact.
“I have many clients bring up mental health issues they’ve seen on social media and ask me if I think they are ADHD or bipolar or if they have an insecure attachment,” says Avigail Lev, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist based in San Francisco. “It also comes in waves: I will get several clients, or several calls from new patients, all regarding the same mental-health concern, and then I will realize that it’s because there’s a new trend on TikTok or Instagram.”
Five Tips to Getting Good Info on ADHD
So, given all of the bad information about ADHD on social media, what should you do to analyze that questionable content, and find good info?
Here are five tips from experts:
• Go to credible online sources
Teens and young adults who want to learn about ADHD, depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions can visit the websites or social media platforms of reliable agencies and associations such as the National Institute of Mental Health, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or the American Psychological Association.
• Question ADHD “experts” on social media
Knowing how to create TikTok videos doesn’t make someone an authority on ADHD or mental health. You can learn whether the creator is reliable, but it requires some work. That’s why many teens and young adults don’t bother.
“This extra step often deters young people from looking for additional information or verifying credibility,” Haji says. “Questions that should be asked when considering the content creator include: Is this person educated, trained, credentialed and licensed to be disseminating this information? Most teens and young adults are unaware that this needs to be taken into consideration.”
• Seek social media content from healthcare professionals
If you’re seeking reliable information about ADHD or mental health conditions, look for social media content created by verified mental health practitioners. The information that they share is more likely to be accurate.
Basch’s study noted that some therapists provide information on TikTok to combat the misinformation spreading elsewhere on TikTok.
“I believe TikTok therapists have recognized the potential for dangerous consequences of adolescents being misled and/or misinformed about mental health conditions and have started to provide corrective information as a response,” Basch says.
• Ask trusted adults about what you see on social media
Teens and young adults can seek input from parents, teachers, therapists and other real-world experts to determine whether something they’ve heard on social media is true.
“The best thing to do if you’re concerned (that) the information in a TikTok video (isn’t) accurate and reliable is to talk to a professional who is trained in that area,” Grimste says. “There needs to be context, clinical judgment and making sure other differential diagnoses have been considered and ruled out.”
• See a professional for an ADHD diagnosis
If you believe you may have ADHD, see a health care professional for an official diagnosis, instead of relying on a TikTok influencer for a pseudo-diagnosis.
“Symptoms of ADHD can be caused by multiple things including, but not limited to, medical conditions, hormonal imbalances, depression, anxiety, trauma and a host of other things,” Haji says. “Diagnosis should be made by a licensed professional in an appropriate medical setting.”
