opinion: mental health info on tiktok needs content warnings
3 minute read
an alarming 83.7 per cent of mental health content on tiktok is inaccurate. supplied
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tiktok has become a global phenomenon. with incredible accessibility and endless avenues for information and self-expression, it is no surprise that people are hooked! however, a darker reality hides beneath the seemingly unlimited supply of user-generated content.
hashtags like #mentalhealth, #adhdsymptoms and #narcissisticrelationship have amassed hundreds of millions of views. but be warned! there is more complexity to a diagnosis than what tiktok can show. can a three-minute video convey the intricate details of unique mental health disorders? as misinformation on tiktok spreads like wildfire, youth develop inaccurate perceptions about mental health disorders and are left to suffer with long-term impacts.
as a society, we are bombarded with generalized content claiming to diagnose and understand our mental health. a one-size-fits-all approach is unrealistic; everyone presents differently based on their environment and genetics. videos riddled with diagnostic misinformation continue to grow, receiving billions of views. are this many people actually suffering from mental health disorders, or is misinformation being offered as entertainment? during the pandemic, tiktok observed a growth of 180 per cent among 15 to 25 year old users. without the ability to properly decipher information, teenagers might question their own mental health and that of those around them.
there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to mental health
many individuals present with multiple diagnoses or comorbidities, and self-diagnosis can be dangerous and lead to further confusion. estimates show that 60 per cent of people with anxiety disorder also have symptoms of depression. analyzing ourselves and our personalities to that extreme is not healthy. accounts like @mindmediapsych are doing their part to bring attention to this issue and educate the public on the dangers of misinformation. as we continue to rely on the internet for advice, it’s important that we remain critical of the source and seek professional help when needed.
the journey from research findings to the sensationalized headlines we see on social media is long and distorted, writes christina bechtel-becker. supplied
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the journey from research findings to the sensationalized headlines we see on social media is long and distorted. research is the original, uninteresting version of the story. unfortunately, the information we are presented with is often dramatized and simplified to grab our attention. the reality is that diagnosing mental health disorders is not as straightforward as we’re led to believe. for example, when reviewing narcissistic personality disorders, there is a lot of overlap in diagnoses with other personality disorders. it is difficult to capture the wide range of complexity determined by individual emotions, personality, behaviour, and genetics and confine them to one specific category. therefore, there is a lot of debate on the constraints that result in a diagnosis.
universities, scientific journals, and websites all play a role in altering and condensing the information. the story is used by reputable websites and then altered to fit the daily highlights we see and discuss (3 signs you have adhd, this is what a narcissistic relationship looks like, for example). in the end, it’s all about what sells, and entertainment reigns supreme. hashtags with entertainment value are frequently used to boost content, taking the top category — whereas advice-type hashtags are much less used. it’s important to be aware of the limitations and biases in the information we receive and not to rely solely on catchy headlines
mental health is a complex and sensitive topic that requires qualified expert opinions to provide accurate and safe advice. on an app dominated by likes and visibility, genuine and scientifically accurate information about mental health is hard to come by. the algorithm used by tiktok prioritizes content that keeps users engaged, regardless of its accuracy or potential harm. this has led to alarming 83.7 per cent of mental health content on the platform being inaccurate and potentially damaging to viewers. the problem is compounded by the fact that many unqualified individuals are attempting to educate others on mental health diagnoses without disclosing their lack of expertise. this puts the mental health of vulnerable individuals at risk and perpetuates the spread of misinformation.
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where do we draw the line between vague personal anecdotes and real science? tiktok has strict guidelines against potentially harmful content, but there is a concerning lack of consequences for the spread of misinformation about mental health diagnoses. it’s time for tiktok to take a more proactive approach in promoting accurate information while taking accountability for the spread of false claims.
the mental health of its users must be a top priority.
christina bechtel-becker is a fourth year psychology student at mcmaster university. she studies mental health issues and social media use with an aspiration to become a psychologist.
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