University of East Anglia Study Highlights TikTok as Leading Platform for Inaccurate Mental Health Content

Researchers investigated the accuracy of mental health and neurodivergence information across social media platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

(IN BRIEF) A study by the University of East Anglia has found that misinformation about mental health, particularly ADHD and autism, is widespread on social media, with TikTok identified as having the highest levels of inaccurate content. Analysing over 5,000 posts across multiple platforms, the research shows that more than half of some types of content may be misleading. While social media plays an important role in raising awareness, the findings highlight risks including delayed diagnosis, increased stigma, and reliance on unverified information. Content created by healthcare professionals was found to be more accurate, but remains limited in volume. The study calls for stronger moderation, better quality standards, and increased participation from medical professionals to improve the reliability of online mental health information.

(PRESS RELEASE) NORWICH, 20-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — A new study from the University of East Anglia has found that a significant share of social media content related to ADHD, autism, and other mental health conditions contains misleading or unsupported information, with TikTok identified as the platform where such inaccuracies are most prevalent.

The research examined the reliability of mental health and neurodivergence content across major platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X. By analysing more than 5,000 posts covering a wide range of conditions such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, OCD, and phobias, the study provides one of the most comprehensive assessments to date of how mental health information is presented online.

The findings show that misinformation is widespread, with some studies indicating that as much as 56% of content may be inaccurate or lacking scientific support. Content related to neurodivergence, particularly ADHD and autism, was found to contain higher levels of misinformation compared to other mental health topics.

TikTok emerged as the platform with the highest proportion of inaccurate information. The analysis revealed that more than half of ADHD-related videos and over two-fifths of autism-related content on TikTok contained misleading or unverified claims. In comparison, YouTube and Facebook demonstrated lower levels of misinformation, although content quality varied significantly depending on the source.

The study highlights the growing influence of social media as a primary source of information for younger audiences seeking to understand mental health symptoms and conditions. While this increased accessibility can encourage awareness and early questioning, it also raises concerns about the spread of incorrect information and its potential consequences.

Researchers warn that misinformation can contribute to misunderstandings of serious conditions, encourage the misinterpretation of normal behaviours as symptoms, and delay individuals from seeking appropriate professional support. It may also reinforce stigma, create unnecessary fear, and expose users to unproven or ineffective treatment advice.

The research also found a clear difference in accuracy between content created by professionals and non-professionals. Material produced by healthcare professionals was consistently more reliable, while content from non-professional creators showed significantly higher rates of misinformation. Despite this, professional voices remain underrepresented across social media platforms.

The role of platform algorithms was identified as a contributing factor to the spread of misleading information. Systems designed to prioritise highly engaging content can amplify inaccurate or exaggerated claims, particularly when users interact with similar content repeatedly, creating feedback loops that reinforce misinformation.

Among the platforms analysed, YouTube Kids stood out for its comparatively low levels of misinformation, a result attributed to stricter moderation and content controls. In contrast, standard YouTube content was found to vary widely in reliability.

The study concludes by emphasising the need for greater involvement from healthcare professionals and organisations in producing accessible, evidence-based content. It also calls for improved moderation practices, clearer standards for evaluating information quality, and more consistent definitions of misinformation to support users in navigating mental health content online.

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SOURCE: University of East Anglia