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Millions of people were misled with health misinformation on TikTok stating that birth control is more harmful than helpful.
A report released by The Independent revealed that certain influencers on TikTok were disseminating false claims about birth control to millions of followers. The report was made in collaboration with the software company, Alethea.
The investigation revealed deceptive videos on TikTok falsely stating that birth control has dangers such as cancer or psychiatric adverse effects which outweigh its benefits. Some of the videos which have since been removed, also promoted the concept that women should “detox” after stopping their birth control prescription. They also claimed that a herbal supplement called Queen Anne’s Lace would work as a contraceptive.
Between February 2021 and July 2024, three popular wellness influencers shared health misinformation on TikTok videos. The videos received 15 million views and 21,000 shares. The hashtag #birthcontrol was used in 115 of the 1,449 videos shared by the three influencers.
The misinformation propagated by the three renowned TikTok influencers was detected by Alethea. Alethea is a leading technology firm that specializes in online risk assessment and mitigation, using data collecting. The influencers also brazenly used several health-related hashtags on TikTok to reach more people than simply their fans. Some of the hashtags they used include #womenshealth #truth #holistichealth #fertilityawareness and #holistichealing.
Social Media Platforms Being Used to Push Health Misinformation
A large number of the misleading videos were posted on YouTube and Instagram. A 2024 survey conducted by marketing technology provider SOCI said Gen Z increasingly prefers Instagram and TikTok over other search engines. Instagram ranked #1 among Gen Z internet users in the US, with 67% stating they use it for search. TikTok comes in second, with 62% of the 18–24 demographic search while Google comes in third with 61%.
TikTok, Instagram, and other social media platforms have come under fire recently for facilitating the spread of false information, particularly regarding the health of women. Women are the largest demographic of TikTok users in the US. There are concerns that they may be particularly impacted by the spread of health misinformation on TikTok. The findings of the study indicated that young women typically prefer information from certified health professionals. However, it urged practitioners and researchers studying health communication to actively explore using TikTok as a platform for delivering health information to women.
How Tiktok is Censoring Health Misinformation
TikTok claimed to have taken down all content that violates its rules against false information on medicine. Its community guidelines prohibit inaccurate and deceptive contents. It also prohibits false content that could seriously hurt people or society, regardless of the intention behind it. TikTok’s community standards permit TikTok members to express their personal experiences or anecdotes regarding medical treatment. This is permissible only on the condition that the content is free of damaging disinformation.
TikTok classifies harmful health information as inaccurate medical advice that deters individuals from receiving the proper medical care for a life-threatening illness. It also includes any misinformation that could have a detrimental impact on a person’s health. The app announced a one-year partnership with the World Health Organization in 2024. The partnership aimed to combat health misinformation on TikTok and promote more accurate content related to mental health. The program was done in partnership with the Fides Network, a network of reputable medical professionals who are also content creators on TikTok.
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