Much of the popular ADHD content on TikTok contains misinformation, UBC study finds

1 month_ago 11

British Columbia·New

Fewer than fractional the claims successful fashionable ADHD-related TikTok videos really aligned with objective guidelines, according to a caller UBC study.

Study recovered misinformation whitethorn impact young adults' cognition of ADHD

Michelle Gomez · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 19, 2025 10:49 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 minutes ago

A telephone unfastened to the tiktok logo

Fewer than fractional the claims successful fashionable ADHD-related TikTok videos aligned with objective guidelines, according to a caller UBC study. (Shutterstock/Postmodern Studio)

Much ADHD contented connected TikTok is inaccurate, and this has perchance influenced however young adults comprehend the disorder, according to a caller UBC study.

The survey analyzed the 100 astir viewed TikToks related to ADHD and recovered little than fractional the claims astir symptoms really align with objective guidelines for diagnosing the disorder.

And it recovered those who consumed much ADHD-related contented were much apt to urge the videos to others — and to overestimate the prevalence and severity of ADHD successful the wide population.

"Most of them travel from a truly bully place," said Vasilea Karasavva, a PhD pupil astatine UBC who led the study.

"But words person power. When you person a platform, you output a definite magnitude of power, and you person to beryllium a small cautious astir that."

ADHD (attention shortage hyperactivity disorder) is simply a chronic neurodevelopmental upset that tin marque radical hyperactive, inattentive or a operation of the two, and it affects astir 4 to six per cent of adults, according to the Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada.

Karasavva said galore radical crook to TikTok for accusation due to the fact that receiving a diagnosis successful the health-care strategy tin beryllium challenging.

And she said TikTok tin beryllium a utile instrumentality to supply this accusation — if it is accurate.

"In galore ways, societal media has democratized entree to accusation astir intelligence health," said Karasavva.

Karasavva said she and the different researchers were amazed to find definite behaviours being attributed arsenic signs of ADHD connected TikTok, specified arsenic having a saccharine tooth, liking definite TV shows or bumping into objects.

They were besides amazed to find astir fractional of the commenters they looked astatine stood to marque fiscal gains from posting astir ADHD — often engaging successful marque deals to merchantability items specified arsenic fidget spinners, enactment books, oregon supplements.

"The extremity of a batch of those creators mightiness not beryllium 100 per cent to amended them. . . But much truthful to picture their ain idiosyncratic acquisition and beryllium comic and quirky and entertaining."

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Karasavva says her cardinal takeaway of the survey is not for radical to halt utilizing societal media to speech astir intelligence health, but alternatively to caution users to fact-check accusation they find online.

Karasavva besides recommends creators bespeak that their idiosyncratic experiences whitethorn not use to everyone with ADHD and beryllium wary of marque deals offered to them.

"There's thing much quality than radical wanting to recognize their ain acquisition much and effort to find community," said Karasavva.

Useful information

Kiri Vanderwel's beingness changed for the amended erstwhile she received an ADHD diagnosis a fewer years ago.

And for that, she says she has societal media to thank. It was done societal media — some Instagram and TikTok — that she learned galore of her characteristics mightiness beryllium indicative of ADHD.

"It has changed my beingness fundamentally, being capable to person entree to that information," she said.

A pistillate is pictured sitting connected a staircase with a toddler successful her lap.

Vanderwel says she has seen misinformation connected societal media, noticing immoderate videos look to beryllium much for views than existent education.

"It is conscionable video upon video upon video. . . we tally the hazard of taking successful a portion of contented without ever investigating further."

But she says she besides follows respective societal media creators who are aesculapian professionals who supply invaluable information.

She recommends radical who are successful her presumption who whitethorn person seen thing connected societal media that indicates they mightiness person ADHD to prosecute further accusation and question retired a diagnosis.

"There genuinely is simply a batch of invaluable accusation retired there, and it provides an entree point," said Vanderwel.