TikTok Mental Health Advice Riddled With Misinformation, Study⁣ Finds

Updated May 31, 2025

A meaningful portion of ⁢mental health advice circulating on TikTok is misleading, according to a recent ‍investigation. The research highlights the prevalence of misinformation, misused therapeutic terms, and unrealistic solutions being promoted on the platform.

As social media becomes an increasingly popular source for mental health support, experts are raising concerns about the quality of⁣ guidance offered. Examples of ⁤dubious advice include unverified anxiety ⁣remedies, promotion of ⁣supplements with limited scientific backing, and the ‍misrepresentation of normal emotions as signs of serious disorders.

Lawmakers and mental health professionals are calling for stricter regulations ‍to combat the spread of potentially harmful content. Thay emphasize the need to protect individuals from inaccurate and potentially risky mental health advice found online.

The investigation reviewed⁣ the top 100 videos under the ⁤hashtag #mentalhealthtips on TikTok. Mental health experts assessed the videos for accuracy.

The review determined⁢ that 52% of the ⁣videos ⁣contained⁢ misinformation related to trauma, neurodivergence, anxiety, depression, or severe⁤ mental illness.⁤ Many other videos ‍where deemed vague‍ or unhelpful.

David Okai,‍ a consultant neuropsychiatrist at king’s College London, noted the misuse‍ of therapeutic language in some videos, potentially causing confusion about mental⁣ illness. ⁢He added that many posts‍ offered general advice based on personal experiences, which may not be⁣ broadly applicable.

according to Okai, the short-form video format can overshadow the complexities of professional therapy. He cautioned against overemphasizing therapy as a “quick fix” solution.

Dan Poulter, a former health minister and NHS psychiatrist, said some videos pathologize everyday experiences, potentially trivializing the experiences of those with serious mental illnesses.

Amber⁢ Johnston,⁤ a psychologist, noted that while some videos contained elements of truth, they frequently enough overgeneralized and minimized the complexities of ⁢PTSD and ⁤trauma symptoms.

“TikTok is spreading misinformation by suggesting that there are secret universal ‍tips and truths that may actually make a viewer feel even worse, like a failure, when these tips don’t simply cure.”

Amber Johnston, British Psychological Society-accredited psychologist

TikTok stated that it removes videos discouraging⁢ medical support or promoting dangerous treatments.⁣ The platform also directs users searching for mental health-related terms to NHS details.

Chi Onwurah, a labor MP, said that the Technology Committee is investigating misinformation on social media, including concerns about the effectiveness of the Online Safety Act.Victoria⁤ Collins, a Liberal Democrat MP, echoed these concerns, urging government action to protect people from harmful misinformation.

Paulette Hamilton, ⁤who chairs the Health and Social Care Select Committee,⁣ emphasized that ⁢social media “tips” should not replace professional mental health support.

“TikTok is a place where millions of people express themselves, come to share their authentic mental health journeys, and find a supportive community… We proactively work with health experts at the World health Organization and NHS to promote reliable information on our platform⁢ and remove 98% of harmful misinformation before it’s reported to us.”

TikTok spokesperson

What’s⁣ next

The government says it is addressing online ⁤misinformation through the online Safety Act, requiring platforms to tackle⁢ illegal ⁣or harmful content, especially that affecting⁤ children.Further scrutiny and potential amendments to the Act ⁢may be considered to enhance public safety regarding mental‍ health information online.