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This study examined the presence, engagement levels, and characteristics of sunscreen-related misinformation on TikTok. We conducted a content analysis on 971 of the most viewed TikTok videos across the five most popular and relevant sunscreen-related hashtags (#sunscreen, #sunscreenviral, #spf, #sunscreenreview, and #sunprotection). To assess differences in audience engagement (views, likes, shares, and comments) between TikToks that only promoted sunscreen, those that included both promotion and critique, and those that solely critiqued sunscreen, we used Kruskal-Wallis tests and Dunn's post hoc tests with a Bonferroni adjustment. Most videos promoted sunscreen use (86.8%), typically to prevent skin damage (17.4%), acne (15.3%), aging (11.5%), and cancer (6.1%). Only a small fraction contained critiques (6.0%), with very few asserting sunscreen causes harm (1.5%) or prevents health benefits (1.2%). While differences in view counts were not statistically significant (p = 0.182), TikToks with only critique showed significantly higher engagement in likes (p = 0.0069), shares (p = 0.0028), and comments (p = 0.0012) compared to those with only promotion. Contrary to claims that TikTok is rife with sunscreen misinformation, our findings indicate that such content constitutes a small portion of the most viewed videos. However, these critique focused TikToks, despite being few, consistently generated significantly more audience interaction. This suggests that critical or contrarian content may attract disproportionate attention even when not widely represented. Overall, the dominant narrative on TikTok promotes sunscreen use, and widespread misinformation does not appear prevalent among the platform's most visible content. Therefore, sunscreen misinformation on TikTok constitutes an area of concern not for the total sum of overarching influence in terms of content production but rather in how strongly some sunscreen misinformation ideas resonated among particular audiences.
Treatment-as-usual (TAU) conditions are intended to reflect the support typically received in routine treatment settings. For digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) delivered online, TAU conditions should reflect the usual patterns of online help-seeking. The lack of ecologically valid TAU control conditions has been a gap in effectiveness trials of online DMHIs. In this study, mental health-related popular online content (eg, advice TikToks, lived experience vlogs, and self-care infographics) was examined as a valuable TAU control condition. This study examined the feasibility of popular online content as a TAU control condition in DMHI trials. This study was a secondary analysis of two randomized controlled trials. Both trials recruited participants online, primarily via an online study recruitment platform. In study 1 (N=916), US adults with elevated depression or anxiety were randomized to either (1) complete a single-session DHMI for depression and anxiety (n=291), (2) search the web for popular online content relevant to their struggles (n=312), or (3) search a curated library of mental health-related popular online content (n=313). In study 2 (N=431), US adults with elevated loneliness were randomized to (1) complete a single-session DHMI for loneliness (n=136), (2) search a curated library of popular online content related to loneliness (n=145), or (3) complete an attention-matched control condition (n=150). All 6 programs took approximately 10 to 20 minutes to complete and were entirely self-guided. Participants rated each program's credibility and expected benefit, as well as their feelings of distress (study 1) and loneliness (study 2). The studies did not involve interaction between participants and the research team. In study 1, dropout during the treatment was 4.8% (14/291) for the single-session intervention, 25.9% (81/312) for online help-seeking, and 9.6% (30/313) for the curated library. The curated library's credibility and expected benefit score did not differ from that of the single-session intervention (Cohen d=0.08; P=.88) and was higher than that of unguided help-seeking (Cohen d=0.23; P=.01). In study 2, dropout was higher in the curated library condition (7/145, 4.8%) than in the single-session intervention and the attention-matched control condition (0/136, 0.0% and 0/150, 0.0%). The mean credibility and expected benefit score for the curated library was comparable to that of the attention-matched control condition (Cohen d=0.00; P>.99) but lower than that of the single-session intervention (Cohen d=0.32; P=.02). Changes in distress and loneliness from baseline to 8-week follow-up did not differ across the conditions in study 1. All effect sizes were small in study 1 (Cohen d<0.15), and no comparisons were statistically significant (P>.06). Similarly, in study 2, all effect sizes were small (Cohen d<0.12), and no comparisons were statistically significant (P>.25). Curated libraries of popular online content are a feasible, ecologically valid TAU benchmark for effectiveness trials of online DMHIs. Future research on TAU conditions in online help-seeking contexts should better align with observed DMHI attrition rates and account for the increasingly central role of conversational artificial intelligence in online mental health support.
With patients using social media for information, online perceptions are playing a larger role in patients deciding to pursue treatment. Information consumed on Instagram and TikTok may influence the likelihood of patients to undergo a tonsillectomy. This investigation aims to grade the accuracy and favorability of available information on Instagram reels and TikToks regarding tonsillectomies. In this cross-sectional study, "tonsillectomy" was searched on TikTok, and "#tonsillectomy" was searched on Instagram. The first 200 videos were independently viewed by two researchers who assessed these videos during a single period, while a third viewer managed data in dispute. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics in Excel. Of 200 TikTok videos, 81.5% were patient experiences and 15.5% educational. Among patient experiences, 36.8% were unfavorable compared with 9.6% of educational videos. There was no significant difference in likes between educational and patient experience content (p = 0.64). Among 200 Instagram reels, 48.5% were consistent with the AAO-HNS Guidelines. Over 50% of reels were posted by patients or parents. Accuracy was 30.1% for patient/parent posts and 92.1% for physician-created posts. Reels were predominantly patient experiences (50.5%) or educational (45.5%), with a neutral tone in 60.5% of reels. Data presented indicates that users researching tonsillectomies on social media receive largely patient or parent-created content. There was high accuracy with videos posted by physicians, and accuracy declined among patients, parents, and other providers. Mean likes and comments were substantial, with the median much lower, suggesting most information viewed comes from select viral videos.
The increased utilization of social media platforms, including TikTok, has revolutionized the way that medical information is disseminated and consumed globally. Despite the benefits of rapidly accessible health information, the unregulated nature of TikTok raises significant concerns for the validity and reliability of medical advice. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the educational quality and accuracy of information presented on TikTok relating to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and cubital tunnel syndrome (CubTS), 2 common upper extremity conditions. A sample of CTS- and CubTS-related TikToks (n = 225) was identified on August 25, 2024, through specific search criteria, defined through hashtags, and filtered by the most liked videos, to select those with the greatest reach. Information extracted from each TikTok totaled 22 objective and subjective variables, in addition to 16 metrics from the DISCERN questionnaire, a proven tool for assessing consumer health information. Videos by physicians made up the minority of content while having greater overall DISCERN score, but lower engagement compared with nonphysicians. Alternative-medicine videos included medical recommendations more often than traditional-medicine videos. These videos also were less balanced and unbiased than traditional-medicine videos. Harmful videos had greater engagement than nonharmful videos. This investigation revealed marked variability in both the quality and reliability of TikTok videos related to CTS and CubTS, demonstrating the need for critical assessment of health information disseminated on social media platforms. Although TikTok is a highly engaging platform, it presents considerable misinformation risks for users seeking health information.
TikTok has emerged as one of the most effective ways of sharing information among the younger generation. Colorectal cancer (CRC), in particular, has become a subject of interest amongst TikTok users with CRC being diagnosed at younger ages. There have been debates about TikTok’s legitimacy with concerns about the dissemination of misinformation. This study analyzed TikTok videos on CRC in young adults for content and reliability of information. This study utilized a cross-sectional content analysis of the 100 most-liked TikTok videos under the search term “colon cancer in younger people” to assess the nature and accuracy of colorectal cancer (CRC) information. Videos were categorized by content, emotional tone, and information type, with accuracy evaluated against verified medical sources. Misinformation was classified into three categories, and quality was assessed using the Global Quality Score. Statistical and thematic analyses were conducted to identify key discourse patterns. This study analyzed 100 TikTok videos on colorectal cancer (CRC) over the past five years, with viewership ranging from a few thousand to 10.8 million. Most creators were female (59%), and 57% were CRC patients. The average age of CRC patients discussed was 26 (range: 14–37). Content focused on CRC symptoms (63%), screening (51%), treatment (25%), and causes (21%). Advocacy was the dominant theme (68%), while fear (46%) and medical mistrust (21%) were also common. Chi-square analysis revealed patients were more likely to share personal narratives than Health Care Providers (HCPs) (X² = 58.8, p < 0.00001). Misinformation was found in 9 videos, with 19% from HCPs, 2% from patients, and 75% from social media influencers. A Z-test showed HCP videos were more likely to contain misinformation than patient videos (Z = 2.85, p = 0.00438). GQS analysis showed no significant differences in quality across creator groups (F(3, 96) = 0.43, p = 0.73). This study highlights the growing role of TikTok as a health communication tool, particularly among young adults at risk for early-onset colorectal cancer. The findings reveal that videos on TikTok often include both educational content and personal narratives about CRC, with a notable emphasis on prevention and the emotional impacts of fear and mistrust. Healthcare providers should engage in empathetic, accessible communication to address these emotional themes and combat misinformation. Institutions and healthcare professionals should consider leveraging social media to share accurate, evidence-based health information and consider integrating digital communication training into professional development.
TikTok's rapid rise has spurred concerns about its potential to cause problematic use behaviors, which some consider akin to addiction. This systematic review seeks to understand the diagnostic and therapeutic implications of TikTok use within the scope of clinical psychology. From September 15, 2023 to March 30, 2024 a systematic review was conducted to investigate whether this new pathological condition can be recognized as a behavioral addiction. We searched the following databases for relevant studies: PubMed, National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), PsycINFO, MDPI, Frontiers in Psychology, ScienceDirect, and ReserchGate. We identified a total of 294 unique articles. 45 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility and only 21 of these met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final systematic review. We identified factors like salience, craving, and abstinence related to problematic TikTok use, confirming its potential risk as a behavioral addiction. Currently, there are neither established guidelines, nor an acceptable number of clinical cases, to determine the inclusion of TikTok addiction within an official classification. Additional considerations include the assessed target population, geographical differences, and the lack of specific treatments or interventions. Our study confirms that problematic TikTok use must be considered an addiction both for the considerable risk it entails and for its developmental trajectory. Through the analysis of the included studies, we confirmed elevated levels of salience, abstinence, tolerance, craving, excessive use, desire to control consumption, and alterations in daily life habits associated with problematic TikTok use.
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Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a proven and effective tool for preventing several types of cancers, yet vaccination rates among young adults remain suboptimal, particularly among those not enrolled in 4-year colleges. This population can be more difficult to reach due to fewer established institutional touchpoints, limited engagement with campus-based health services, and greater variability in access to preventive care. At the same time, social media has become a dominant source of information for young adults, with TikTok (ByteDance) emerging as one of the most widely used platforms. Approximately 41% of TikTok's users are between the ages of 16 and 24 years, making it a potentially important channel for public health communication. However, little is known about how noncollege young adults perceive HPV-related content on TikTok, or how influencers themselves view their role in communicating about vaccination. This study explored the perspectives of young adults and TikTok influencers regarding the dissemination and reception of HPV vaccine information on TikTok. The goal was to assess the potential of leveraging influencers as trusted messengers for this hard-to-reach population. Researchers conducted 5 focus groups with noncollege young adults, stratified by gender and vaccination status. Each group included 5-8 participants, resulting in a total of 34 individuals. Participants who reported being extremely hesitant about the HPV vaccine were excluded to focus on those more receptive to information. In parallel, researchers recruited 9 TikTok influencers who reached audiences aged 18-25 years and conducted in-depth individual interviews. Influencers represented a diverse mix of identities, follower counts, and content genres, providing varied perspectives on engagement with health-related topics. Across the focus groups, young adults described regularly encountering or actively seeking health-related information online, with TikTok emerging as a primary or supplementary source for some. However, very few participants reported seeing content specifically related to HPV vaccination. Despite this gap, most expressed openness to such content if it was delivered in a relatable, authentic manner and included concise, relevant facts. Influencers echoed the importance of authenticity, emphasizing that their credibility is grounded in genuine connections with their audiences. Many described frequent, meaningful exchanges with followers about sensitive issues, suggesting comfort in addressing health topics. Influencers noted that they would be willing to share HPV-related content under certain conditions, including alignment with existing content, personal relevance, or participation in a structured campaign or partnership. Findings suggest that TikTok may be a promising platform to engage noncollege young adults in HPV vaccination messaging. The strong parasocial relationships influencers maintain with their audiences could position them as effective messengers on sensitive health topics. Strategic collaborations with influencers, coupled with carefully crafted, authentic content, may help bridge communication gaps and support increased awareness of HPV vaccination in this underserved population.
Multimedia, including TikTok, is increasingly predominant for asynchronous and synchronous learning. This scoping review aimed to determine the role of TikTok for clinical education, including assessment of learning benefits, limitations, accessibility, acceptability and feasibility. We conducted a scoping review following Joanna Briggs Institute's (JBI) guidelines. Literature eligibility criteria included any literature discussing TikTok for clinical education. Findings were narratively synthesised on a bespoke data collection tool and analysed. This review highlighted both strengths and risks relating to TikTok for clinical education. Identified strengths included benefits for student engagement and enjoyment from learning, improving accessibility and acceptability of learning content and opportunities for advocacy and outreach. The scope of educational opportunities included direct learning of clinical information, academic discourse and dissemination and professional networking. Learning benefits related to integrative multimedia pedagody and reduction of learner cognitive load, which optimised the learning potential from content viewed. Benefits detailed were predominantly conceptual, with a lack of studies analysing TikTok educational use and risk of bias from studies high. Risks and challenges relating to TikTok were notable, including cybersecurity, misinformation, addiction and exploitation risks from social media use, as well as a lack of professional guidance and legislation. While TikTok has potential, its integration into clinical education remains limited by risks. Ethical considerations limit the feasibility and justifiability of learner and educator use. Without formal legislation, governance, resource provision and training, the use of TikTok by clinical educators is practically unrealistic and offers unacceptable educational, academic, personal and professional risks to both learners and educators.
Shoulder pain and injury are among the most prevalent musculoskeletal presentations in primary care. With the rise of consumer health information on TikTok, it is pivotal to assess and determine whether the information produced by content creators can serve as a supplement for shoulder rehabilitation and injury prevention. It was hypothesized that content creators with professional degrees and extensive knowledge within the realm of shoulder injuries would yield valuable and accurate health information. Cross-sectional study. On June 18, 2025, #ShoulderInjury was used as the search item under the TikTok search engine. A total of 9286 videos appeared after the initial search. The authors applied an inclusion criteria of at least 100 likes. Exclusion criteria removed irrelevant, non-English, and duplicate videos, resulting in 209 eligible videos for further analysis. These were evaluated using the DISCERN questionnaire, an instrument used to assess consumer health information on a 1 to 5 scale. Two independent raters scored the videos, and interrater reliability was calculated using weighted Cohen kappa. The 209 analyzed videos garnered 1,408,268 likes and 12,536 comments, with a mean DISCERN score of 2.61. Physicians' videos (n = 41) had the highest mean score (3.52), significantly outperforming nonprofessionals (2.18), physical therapists (2.87), and other professionals (2.79) in critical DISCERN areas (P < .001). Educational content yielded the highest mean score (3.29), whereas personal story videos had the lowest (1.89). Weighted Cohen kappa showed very good agreement for physician videos (κ = 0.82), moderate for physical therapists (κ = 0.59), good for nonprofessionals (κ = 0.79), and fair for other professionals (κ = 0.40). This study highlights the potential of TikTok as an effective educational tool when used by qualified professionals. Professionally produced content consistently scored higher on the DISCERN scale. Although the findings are promising, it is important to note limitations, like potential biases in DISCERN scoring due to nonblinded raters, the influence of TikTok's algorithm, and the exclusion of videos with <100 likes. Future research should explore social media's role in medical education and assess how to optimize content delivery and engagement.
TikTok-a highly engaging social media platform with a powerful algorithm that displays short videos-has become massively popular in recent years. As research highlights the concerning relationship between image-based content on social media and disordered eating symptoms, TikTok may serve as an optimal platform to understand eating disorders (EDs) and body image-related concerns. We conducted a rapid review of the research on TikTok, EDs, and body image. From an initial pool of 205 articles, 58 met inclusion criteria for the review. Research included content analyses (n = 19), observational studies (n = 23 studies reported in 22 articles), and experimental studies (n = 22 studies reported in 17 articles). The research identified both potentially harmful content and ED recovery content present on TikTok. There are potentially positive effects of body positivity and body neutrality TikTok content on body image and ED risk. The literature mostly includes non-representative samples of young women. It remains unclear what effects identified in research so far are specific to TikTok, versus generalizable to short-form video content. We conclude by discussing TikTok's potential as a platform for disseminating evidence-based ED information and delivering brief interventions, drawing on harm reduction principles to promote TikTok as a space where providers can meet social media users with EDs where they are. Instead of encouraging users to stop their TikTok usage, we suggest that future research explore how TikTok can be leveraged as a tool for ED treatment, a crucial avenue given the limited accessibility of ED treatment. We conducted a rapid review to examine the state of the literature on TikTok use, EDs, and body image. We found studies suggesting mixed results regarding the extent to which TikTok has a negative impact on EDs and body image‐related concerns among TikTok users. We recommend a harm‐reduction approach to leverage the use of TikTok to better understand EDs, disseminate ED evidence‐based information, and deliver ED brief interventions.
TikTok has rapidly grown as a source of health-related content, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, concerns persist regarding the credibility and reliability of medical information shared on the platform. This study examined the attitudes and practices of adults in Saudi Arabia regarding the use of TikTok for obtaining health information. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 895 adults (aged ≥18 years) in Saudi Arabia between January and June 2024 using purposive sampling. A structured questionnaire assessed sociodemographic characteristics and perceptions about health information on TikTok. Data were analyzed using the descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests to determine the associations between demographic factors and TikTok health-information use, with P < 0.05 considered statistically significant. TikTok use was most common among younger adults and females. Although more than half of participants reported using the app for at least an hour daily, only 41.23% used it to obtain health information. The most frequently searched topics included medication side effects, patient experiences, and general health awareness. Most participants rated TikTok's health information as moderately credible and trusted content more from friends, influencers, and peers than from healthcare professionals. TikTok influenced healthcare provider choices and daily routines but was not widely used before consulting professionals. Female gender was significantly associated with seeking medical information on TikTok (P = 0.004). TikTok provides accessible health information but is viewed cautiously due to credibility concerns. Increased healthcare professional involvement and digital literacy initiatives may enhance reliability and safe usage. Résumé Contexte:TikTok s’est rapidement développé comme une source de contenu lié à la santé, en particulier après la pandémie de COVID-19. Cependant, des préoccupations persistent concernant la crédibilité et la fiabilité des informations médicales partagées sur la plateforme. Cette étude a examiné les attitudes et les pratiques des adultes en Arabie saoudite concernant l’utilisation de TikTok pour obtenir des informations de santé.Méthodes:Une enquête transversale en ligne a été menée auprès de 895 adultes (âgés de ≥18 ans) en Arabie saoudite entre janvier et juin 2024 en utilisant un échantillonnage par convenance. Un questionnaire structuré a permis d’évaluer les caractéristiques sociodémographiques et les perceptions concernant les informations de santé sur TikTok. Les données ont été analysées à l’aide de statistiques descriptives et de tests du Chi carré afin de déterminer les associations entre les facteurs démographiques et l’utilisation de TikTok pour les informations de santé, avec une valeur de P < 0,05 considérée comme statistiquement significative.Résultats:L’utilisation de TikTok était plus fréquente chez les jeunes adultes et les femmes. Bien que plus de la moitié des participants aient déclaré utiliser l’application au moins une heure par jour, seulement 41,23 % l’utilisaient pour obtenir des informations de santé. Les sujets les plus fréquemment recherchés comprenaient les effets secondaires des médicaments, les expériences des patients et la sensibilisation générale à la santé. La plupart des participants ont évalué les informations de santé sur TikTok comme étant modérément crédibles et faisaient davantage confiance aux contenus provenant d’amis, d’influenceurs et de pairs qu’à ceux provenant de professionnels de santé. TikTok influençait le choix des prestataires de soins de santé et les routines quotidiennes, mais n’était pas largement utilisé avant de consulter des professionnels. Le sexe féminin était significativement associé à la recherche d’informations médicales sur TikTok (P = 0,004).Conclusion:TikTok fournit des informations de santé accessibles mais est abordé avec prudence en raison de préoccupations liées à la crédibilité. Une implication accrue des professionnels de santé et des initiatives visant à améliorer la littératie numérique pourraient renforcer la fiabilité et l’utilisation sûre des contenus de santé sur les réseaux sociaux.
With the rise of internet access and social media use, finding medical information has become easier than ever. Increasingly, medical professionals (MPs) are using video-sharing platforms such as TikTok to disseminate educational material. This study aims to assess the quality of educational content related to total knee arthroplasty (TKA) treatment on TikTok. On July 31, 2025, using the search terms "total knee arthroplasty," "knee replacement surgery," and "TKA," the first 150 videos produced by TikTok were compiled. After applying exclusion criteria, 59 videos were reviewed using the following assessments: Global Quality Score (GQS), Journal of the American Medical Association benchmark, Health on the Net Code, The Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Audiovisual Materials, and a modified DISCERN. The 59 videos had a cumulative total of 2,738,858 views. Videos created by MPs had higher average scores in GQS (2.29 vs 1.31; P = .00047), Journal of the American Medical Association (1.76 vs 1.31; P = .00056), Health on the Net Code (3.95 vs 2.40; P = <0.000001), The Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Audiovisual Materials Understandability (8.29 vs 7.20; P = .0033), and modified DISCERN (2.3 vs 1.1; P = <0.0008) when compared to videos created by non-MPs. TikTok demonstrates potential as a platform for disseminating educational content related to TKA. Although videos created by MPs scored higher across all evaluation metrics compared with those produced by non-MPs, the overall educational quality of available content remains limited. Improving video quality requires citing credible sources, providing supplementary learning materials, and disclosing potential conflicts of interest.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate TikTok videos about type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in English and Spanish, with a focus on the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists' 7 self-care behaviors (ADCES7). This descriptive study analyzed 300 TikTok videos via English and Spanish hashtags related to T2DM and categorized self-management education content utilizing the ADCES7 self-care behavior framework. Video content creators were categorized into 3 groups: health care professionals, personal accounts, and companies. The Global Quality Scale (GQS) was used to assess video quality from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent). User engagement metrics were recorded to examine differences across videos. The analysis of videos revealed that healthy eating was the most frequently addressed ADCES7 self-care behavior, followed by reducing risk. In contrast, problem-solving and healthy coping were the least represented. Spanish-language videos emphasized healthy coping more than English content. Health care professionals' videos had higher GQS scores than personal accounts and companies. However, overall GQS scores remained low-engagement varied by source, with personal creators generating the highest levels of likes and comments. Traditional in-person diabetes education has limited accessibility, especially for various groups, including Hispanic communities. This study found that TikTok content often lacked high-quality and comprehensive coverage of ADCES7 self-care behaviors, with personal accounts generating the most engagement despite lower quality. Given TikTok's rapid growth, there is an urgent need to improve the quality of diabetes-management content to ensure users receive accurate and reliable information.
BackgroundWhile TikTok's surge in health-related material creates valuable opportunities for patient education, the platform's absence of structured peer-review mechanisms raises concerns regarding the quality of available content. Increasingly, patients rely on social media for guidance on self-managing conditions such as Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) injuries; however, the quality of this information has not yet been rigorously evaluated.ObjectiveThe aim of this research was to systematically assess TikTok videos demonstrating rehabilitation exercises for TFCC injuries, specifically evaluating their quality, reliability, and educational value.MethodsA cross-sectional study searched TikTok for "TFCC rehab", "TFCC exercises", and "TFCC training". A final 123 videos were analyzed. Quality and reliability were assessed using DISCERN, Global Quality Scale (GQS), and JAMA criteria. Educational content was evaluated using an adapted TFCC Exercise Education Score (TFCCEES). Video characteristics, engagement metrics, and uploader types were recorded.ResultsOverall quality was low (median DISCERN 28.00; 88.6% "poor" or "very poor"). Most videos (64.23%) were from non-health professionals. Health professionals scored higher on JAMA criteria (P < 0.001), but no significant differences were found in DISCERN, GQS, or TFCCEES between groups. Engagement metrics showed negligible correlations with quality scores. Video duration moderately correlated with DISCERN (ρ = 0.45).ConclusionsTFCC rehabilitation content on the Chinese version of TikTok is predominantly poor, regardless of uploader status. Popularity is not an indicator of quality, which may limit patients' ability to identify reliable rehabilitation guidance. Healthcare professionals should direct patients to validated resources and create high-quality social media content.
TikTok has rapidly become one of the world's most influential social media platforms, distinguished by its algorithmically personalized video feed. Its design prioritizes continuous, engagement-optimized content delivery, raising questions about how such environments may shape eating disorder risk, symptom maintenance, and recovery. This narrative review synthesizes emerging research on TikTok and eating disorders. We conducted a narrative review of studies identified through targeted database searches and reference screening. Findings were organized into four domains: (1) eating disorder-relevant content on TikTok, (2) algorithmic systems structuring content distribution, (3) psychological and behavioral outcomes associated with content exposure, engagement, and creation, and (4) implications for clinical risk, recovery, and intervention. Eating disorder-relevant content on TikTok ranges from explicit pro-eating disorder and pro-recovery material to more socially normative dieting, fitness, and appearance-focused content. Algorithm-focused studies indicate that recommendation systems can disproportionately deliver such material to vulnerable users and may be more responsive to passive engagement signals (e.g., watch time) than to explicit actions (e.g., "liking"). Across study designs, greater exposure to and engagement with eating disorder-related content appears to be associated with eating disorder symptoms and related phenomena. Personalized feeds may function as treatment barriers that warrant assessment in clinical settings, and psychoeducation about how recommendation systems operate may help clients recognize and disrupt harmful exposure cycles. TikTok's algorithmically structured environment may interact with vulnerability to reinforce maladaptive comparison and behavioral cycles. Further longitudinal and clinically focused research is needed to clarify causal pathways and inform evidence-based guidance for clinicians.
Social media has become a major source of health information. TikTok, a rapidly expanding global platform that enables broad dissemination of medical content, yet the accuracy and reliability of such information remain uncertain. In this context, assessing the educational quality of videos on spondylolisthesis is of increasing clinical relevance. To evaluate the quality, reliability, and educational value of TikTok videos on spondylolisthesis and identify factors associated with higher-quality content. TikTok was searched in August 2025 using the keyword "spondylolisthesis." Video metrics, uploader type and content category were recorded. Two orthopedic surgeons independently assessed reliability and quality using the DISCERN tool, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmarks, and Global Quality Score (GQS). A total of 254 TikTok videos were screened, of which 82 met inclusion criteria, totaling 4.15 million views and 55,967 likes. Private users uploaded 46.3%, surgeons 28.0%, physiotherapists 23.2%, and researchers 2.4%. Overall quality was poor (DISCERN 34.1 ± 17.6; JAMA 1.8 ± 1.1; GQS 2.6 ± 1.1). Videos by surgeons and physiotherapists scored significantly higher (p < 0.001), and educational content outperformed patient experiences (p < 0.001). Longer videos correlated with higher quality scores, while engagement metrics were not predictive. Most TikTok videos on spondylolisthesis showed low quality and limited reliability. Educational content produced by healthcare professionals performed better, while popularity metrics were not indicative of quality. Spine specialists should recognize TikTok's growing role in patient education and contribute accurate, evidence-based content to improve information quality.