- Online social platforms have increased visibility and discussion around mental health topics.
- Not all mental health information shared online is necessarily accurate, evidence-based, or even well-intentioned.
- Experts say people with mental health issues may be especially vulnerable to this type of messaging.
Anyone can create a TikTok account.
For the purposes of staying connected with friends and family, this can be a simple and effective tool.
However, as you might expect — or may have already experienced firsthand — this also means that not everything shared on TikTok is based in fact.
The same applies to other popular social platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and X (formerly known as Twitter).
In a new book edited by Jonathan N. Stea and Stephen Hupp, a panel of professionals examines the potential dangers of seeking mental health advice and treatments online, and in particular on social media platforms and celebrity sites.
What are the specific dangers, and what can be done to avert them? Here’s what experts have to say.
“I use TikTok and often witness mental health issues being shared and discussed on the platform,” Andrea Tarantella, LPC, NCC, a counselor with ADHD Advisor who was not involved in the book, told Medical News Today.
“I see anecdotal advice and personal experiences being shared that often oversimplify how complex mental health issues are. Individuals then self-diagnose with conditions such as ADHD and autism in the comments section, simply relying on one personal experience posted by the content creator,” said Tarantella.
While personal anecdotes certainly have the potential to be true, experts say they shouldn’t be applied broadly or mistaken as definitive.
Experts also caution against content that promotes immediate results and in particular those that point viewers to make a purchase….
Read the full article here