A substantial proportion of TikTok posts about ADHD and autism are misleading - according to a new study from the University of East Anglia.

Researchers investigated the accuracy of mental health and neurodivergence information across social media platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

They found that these platforms are awash with misleading or unsubstantiated mental health content - and that TikTok is the worst offender.

The study also reveals that posts about neurodivergence such as autism and ADHD contained higher levels of misinformation than many other mental health topics.

Dr Eleanor Chatburn, from UEA's Norwich Medical School, said: "Our work uncovered misinformation rates on social media as high as 56 per cent. This highlights how easily engaging videos can spread widely online, even when the information isn't always accurate.

"Social media has become an important place where many young people learn about mental health, but the quality of this information can vary greatly. This means that misleading content can circulate quickly, particularly if there aren't accessible and reliable sources available."

How the research happened

The team analysed more than 5,000 social media posts about mental health topics including autism, ADHD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders, OCD, anxiety and phobias.

The systematic review is the first to examine mental health and neurodivergence information across multiple social media platforms.

TikTok shows higher levels of misinformation

The study found that TikTok frequently contained higher levels of inaccurate or unsubstantiated mental health content than other platforms.

Dr Alice Carter undertook the research as part of her doctoral thesis. She said: "When we looked closely at TikTok content, studies reported that 52 per cent of ADHD-related videos and 41 per cent of autism videos analysed were inaccurate.

"By contrast, YouTube averaged 22 per cent misinformation, while Facebook averaged just under 15 per cent," she added.

Why misinformation is such a problem

Dr Chatburn said: "Metal health information on social media matters because many young people now turn to these platforms to understand their symptoms and possible diagnoses.

"TikTok content has been linked to young people increasingly believing they may have mental health or neurodevelopmental conditions. While this questioning can be a helpful starting point, it's important these questions lead to proper clinical assessment with a professional.

"As well as leading to misunderstanding of serious conditions and pathologising ordinary behaviour, misinformation can also lead to delayed diagnosis for people that actually do need help.

"When false ideas spread, they can feed stigma and make people less likely to reach out for support when they really need it.

"It can also make mental illness seem scary or hopeless, which creates even more fear and misunderstanding.

"On top of that, when people come across misleading advice about treatments, especially ones that aren't backed by evidence, it can delay them from getting proper care and ultimately make things worse."

Professionals vs influencers - who should we trust?

Unsurprisingly, the review found that content created by healthcare professionals was consistently more accurate. However, professional voices still represent only a small share of mental health content circulating on these platforms.

Dr Carter said: "In the case of ADHD on TikTok for example, just three per cent of professional videos contained misinformation - compared to 55 per cent of videos by non professionals.

"While lived-experience can play an important role, with personal stories helping people to feel understood and raising awareness of mental health conditions, it is vital to ensure that accurate and evidence-based information from clinicians and trusted organisations is also visible and easy to find.

"TikTok's algorithms are also designed to push rapidly engaging content and this is a major driver of misinformation.

"Once users show interest in a topic, they are bombarded with similar posts - creating powerful echo chambers that can reinforce false or exaggerated claims.

"It is a perfect storm for misinformation to go viral faster than facts can catch up."

YouTube Kids - a rare bright spot

YouTube Kids was found to contain no misinformation for anxiety and depression, and only 8.9 per cent for ADHD - a result attributed to the platform's stricter moderation rules.

By contrast, standard YouTube was described as "highly inconsistent", with videos ranging from poor to moderately reliable, depending heavily on the topic, channel and influencer.

Clinicians must become creators

The review concludes with a call for health organisations and clinicians to create and promote better evidence-based content.

The team have also called for improved content moderation, standardised tools for assessing online mental health information, and clearer definitions of misinformation.

'The Quality of Mental Health and Neurodivergence-Related Information on Social Media: A Systematic Review' is published in The Journal of Social Media Research.

Study Medicine at UEA

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