More than half of the top-trending mental health advice videos on TikTok contain misinformation, according to a new investigation published by The Guardian. The study examined the 100 most popular videos under the #mentalhealthtips hashtag, finding 52% presented inaccurate or misleading information.
The investigation enlisted psychologists, psychiatrists, and academic experts to review the trending content. Their analysis uncovered widespread issues with how mental health information is presented on the platform.
Videos frequently misuse therapeutic language, often using terms like wellbeing, anxiety, and mental disorder interchangeably, creating confusion about what constitutes actual mental illness.
Many creators oversimplify complex conditions and promote unproven supplements, including saffron and holy basil as anxiety remedies. The experts found numerous claims about quick-fix solutions, such as methods purporting to heal trauma within an hour.
Some content even characterizes normal emotional experiences as symptoms of severe conditions like borderline personality disorder.
The investigation highlights how short-form, attention-grabbing content often lacks the nuance required for mental health topics. Many videos offer general advice based on narrow personal experiences that “may not be universally applicable,” according to David Okai, a consultant neuropsychiatrist at King’s College London who participated in the review.
Psychologist Amber Johnston notes that while most videos contain “a nugget of truth,” they tend to overgeneralize and minimize the complexity of conditions like PTSD, potentially making viewers “feel even worse, like a failure, when these tips don’t simply cure.”
Platform Response
This investigation comes as TikTok expands its mental health initiatives. In May, the platform launched in-app guided meditation features and announced a $2.3 million donation in ad credits to 31 mental health organizations across 22 countries.
The platform has also brought mental health professionals into high-profile forums, including Dr. Kirren Schnack, a clinical psychologist with 600,000 followers who participated in World Economic Forum panels alongside WHO officials earlier this year.
TikTok states that videos are removed if they discourage seeking medical support or promote dangerous treatments. The platform claims it directs UK users searching for mental health terms to NHS information.
A TikTok spokesperson defended the platform as a place where “millions of people express themselves, come to share their authentic mental health journeys, and find a supportive community.” The company reports removing 98% of harmful misinformation before it’s reported.
The findings have prompted calls from British MPs for strengthened regulation to protect the public from mental health misinformation. The UK government indicates it is addressing harmful misinformation through the Online Safety Act, which requires platforms to tackle content that is illegal or harmful to children.
In the United States, TikTok faces broader regulatory scrutiny. In October 2024, 14 state attorneys general filed lawsuits alleging that the platform damages young users’ mental health, while the U.S. Department of Justice filed a separate lawsuit in August regarding children’s data collection practices.
David Adler is an entrepreneur and freelance blog post writer who enjoys writing about business, entrepreneurship, travel and the influencer marketing space.
More than half of the top-trending mental health advice videos on TikTok contain misinformation, according to a new investigation published by The Guardian. The study examined the 100 most popular videos under the #mentalhealthtips hashtag, finding 52% presented inaccurate or misleading information.
The investigation enlisted psychologists, psychiatrists, and academic experts to review the trending content. Their analysis uncovered widespread issues with how mental health information is presented on the platform.
Videos frequently misuse therapeutic language, often using terms like wellbeing, anxiety, and mental disorder interchangeably, creating confusion about what constitutes actual mental illness.
Many creators oversimplify complex conditions and promote unproven supplements, including saffron and holy basil as anxiety remedies. The experts found numerous claims about quick-fix solutions, such as methods purporting to heal trauma within an hour.
Some content even characterizes normal emotional experiences as symptoms of severe conditions like borderline personality disorder.
The investigation highlights how short-form, attention-grabbing content often lacks the nuance required for mental health topics. Many videos offer general advice based on narrow personal experiences that “may not be universally applicable,” according to David Okai, a consultant neuropsychiatrist at King’s College London who participated in the review.
Psychologist Amber Johnston notes that while most videos contain “a nugget of truth,” they tend to overgeneralize and minimize the complexity of conditions like PTSD, potentially making viewers “feel even worse, like a failure, when these tips don’t simply cure.”
Platform Response
This investigation comes as TikTok expands its mental health initiatives. In May, the platform launched in-app guided meditation features and announced a $2.3 million donation in ad credits to 31 mental health organizations across 22 countries.
The platform has also brought mental health professionals into high-profile forums, including Dr. Kirren Schnack, a clinical psychologist with 600,000 followers who participated in World Economic Forum panels alongside WHO officials earlier this year.
TikTok states that videos are removed if they discourage seeking medical support or promote dangerous treatments. The platform claims it directs UK users searching for mental health terms to NHS information.
A TikTok spokesperson defended the platform as a place where “millions of people express themselves, come to share their authentic mental health journeys, and find a supportive community.” The company reports removing 98% of harmful misinformation before it’s reported.
The findings have prompted calls from British MPs for strengthened regulation to protect the public from mental health misinformation. The UK government indicates it is addressing harmful misinformation through the Online Safety Act, which requires platforms to tackle content that is illegal or harmful to children.
In the United States, TikTok faces broader regulatory scrutiny. In October 2024, 14 state attorneys general filed lawsuits alleging that the platform damages young users’ mental health, while the U.S. Department of Justice filed a separate lawsuit in August regarding children’s data collection practices.
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