Study Reveals ADHD Misinformation on TikTok is Widespread
A recent study has found that many TikTok videos about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) contain misleading information, making it difficult for viewers to discern what is factually accurate.
ADHD Content on TikTok Often Lacks Accuracy
The study, published in PLOS One on March 19, revealed that fewer than half of the most-watched ADHD videos on TikTok contained information that aligned with established diagnostic criteria or professional treatment guidelines. Even those who had been diagnosed with ADHD struggled to differentiate between reliable and misleading content.
Furthermore, about 50% of the TikTok creators in the study used their content to promote products or services such as coaching, but none of them were licensed mental health professionals.
Dangers of Misdiagnosis and Oversimplified Symptoms
According to Vasileia Karasavva, the study’s lead author and a doctoral student at the University of British Columbia, many TikTok videos fail to acknowledge the complexity of ADHD symptoms.
For example, difficulty focusing—a commonly mentioned symptom—can also be linked to other mental health conditions like anxiety or depression, which is rarely mentioned in these videos.
“We don’t want to discourage people from sharing their experiences,” Karasavva said. “But if someone self-diagnoses incorrectly, they might not seek the right kind of help.”
This finding is consistent with a 2022 study that reviewed 100 ADHD TikTok videos and found that half contained misinformation.
Social Media Algorithms and Public Perception of ADHD
For the study, researchers reviewed the 100 most-viewed ADHD videos on TikTok in January 2023, with two licensed clinical psychologists evaluating their accuracy. If a video’s claims did not align with the DSM-5, the psychologists determined whether the information better fit another disorder or was simply a general experience unrelated to ADHD.
More than 840 undergraduate students also participated in rating the videos. Those who frequently engaged with ADHD-related content on TikTok were more likely to recommend both the most and least accurate videos, suggesting that repeated exposure influenced their perception of credibility.
Karasavva noted that TikTok’s recommendation system likely plays a role in reinforcing misinformation. “Seeing the same information repeatedly makes it easy to assume it’s correct, even when it’s not backed by science,” she explained.
Additionally, the study found that many students significantly overestimated how common ADHD is, reinforcing concerns about misinformation shaping public understanding.
Margaret Sibley, a psychiatry professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, added that TikTok’s algorithm can amplify certain voices disproportionately. “Not all perspectives on TikTok are equal—those with the loudest voices can often overshadow accurate medical insights,” she warned.
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