TikTok Algorithm Amplifies Health Misinformation on Paracetamol and Autism

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Research presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics Congress reveals that TikTok’s recommendation algorithm disproportionately amplified health misinformation and conspiracy theories regarding a fabricated link between prenatal paracetamol exposure and autism. Following public statements made in September 2025 by United States President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert Kennedy suggesting an association between the medication and autism spectrum disorder, the medical community refuted the claims for lacking scientific evidence, according to reports. Despite the prompt refutation, the announcements triggered widespread public confusion, prompting pregnant patients to flood medical offices with inquiries about the safety of taking paracetamol during pregnancy.

Algorithm Amplification Drives Millions of Views to False Content

Researchers at the Rutgers School of Medicine in New Jersey examined 53 TikTok videos published between September and November 2025 using search tags such as paracetamol autismo, as reported. Two independent reviewers coded the content based on misinformation status, creator type, educational quality, thematic framing, and user interaction metrics. The analysis established that 52.8% of the studied videos aligned with scientific evidence, 28.3% contained misinformation, and 18.9% presented ambiguous information, according to. Although misleading videos accounted for less than a third of the analyzed sample, they amassed 52.4% of the total 28.13 million views across all examined clips, driven heavily by individual videos that reached massive audiences.

A pesar de constituir una parte menor del contenido total disponible sobre el tema, los vídeos con bulos representaron más de la mitad del total de visualizaciones de todo el contenido que examinamos.

Shivani Srivastava, Rutgers School of Medicine

Content Disparities Between Medical Professionals and Social Media Influencers

The study highlights a stark contrast in the quality and sources of health information circulating on the platform, with medical professionals producing accurate content while influencers largely propagated unverified claims. Healthcare providers consistently published material aligned with established medical evidence, whereas social media influencers accounted for 73.3% of all videos containing hoaxes and conspiracy theories, as detailed. Misinformation videos exhibited inferior educational quality compared to evidence-based content and showed a significantly higher likelihood of incorporating conspiratorial frameworks and distrust toward the pharmaceutical industry, appearing in 46.7% and 53.3% of those respective clips, according to.

Medical Institutions Urged to Engage Digital Platforms

Study authors emphasize that the findings show healthcare organizations and medical practitioners must actively participate in social media conversations by generating accurate, engaging content for patients. The research demonstrates that algorithms can allow unverified claims to outpace evidence-based guidance on sensitive pediatric and maternal health topics, making proactive digital outreach essential for countering public confusion.