For 1 in 3 young people, TikTok is their main source of health information
The evidence of the appeal that a medium like TikTok seems to have for people who want to learn more about a health issue or are looking for health and wellness tips is sensational yet sobering.
According to personal trainer app survey results Zing Coach in a sample of 1000 users using the app, 56% of users “Gen Z” (people born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, roughly 1996-2015) turn to TikTok for health and wellness tips. In fact, for 1 in 3, TikTok is their main source of health information.
According to Valter Gjergjan, CEO of Health at Zing Coach, this new generation is turning to TikTok, Google and YouTube for advice because it’s fast and free.
However, she says these users run the risk of falling victim to misinformation as well as developing self-esteem issues related to their appearance.
One in 11 Americans has experienced a health problem after seeking advice on TikTok
An example of the damage that can be done by relying on social media for health concerns was the case of a woman who risked her eyesight by relying on a TikTok video promoting the health benefits of sunbathing.
According to Aaron B. Zimmerman, an optometrist and assistant professor of clinical optometry at Ohio State University, his patient suffered permanent retinal damage.
“I suspect that professionals of all specialties have seen patients harmed by controversial content in various media,” he told Healthline.
According to a Zing Coach survey, 1 in 3 people admit they don’t verify the health advice they see on TikTok, and 1 in 10 say a large number of “likes” or followers is enough to consider an influencer credible — depending on their expertise. regardless.
“When we see an account with millions of followers and videos with countless positive comments from other users, our first thought is that the information given is true. However, likes and engagement are in no way indicative of an influencer’s credibility,” says Gjergja.
After all, for many influencers, what they promote on social media is a means of livelihood, and some will spread misinformation if paid well enough.
In addition, the sexier and more interesting the video, the more it will spread.
“Conspiracy theories get millions of views because people think the government has a secret they don’t want them to know,” says Kathryn Wallace, an epidemiologist and associate professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, who has produced informational videos during the pandemic about Covid-19 on TikTok.
“Algorithms work in such a way that if you’re following people who are spreading misinformation, then you’re constantly getting bad information, and if you’re getting all your information from there, then a large percentage of people are spreading misinformation. they have reliable information,” he adds.