UNITED NATIONS, Sep 30 (IPS) – Today’s digital age is centered around TikTok, a short-form social media platform that caters to an estimated 1 billion global users. Sensational or reductive videos often attract the most attention from younger viewers, resulting in the global spread of misinformation.
On September 26, the World Health Program (WHO) and TikTok announced a year-long collaboration that plans to provide users with trustworthy, researched health information. Fides, WHO’s affiliate network, employs medical experts and fact-based content creators to eliminate inaccuracies, promote transparency and promote healthier practices.
TikTok users who actively search for health information are more likely to be exposed to misinformation about gun safety, reproductive health care and the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a study by nonprofit health policy group KFF. While about 40% of TikTok users trust videos for health information, only 13% of users would follow up with a medical professional.
“The algorithm works by tracking people who are spreading misinformation, and then you’re constantly getting bad information, and if you get all your information from there, there’s a large percentage of people who don’t. Get factual information.” said Dr. Katrine Wallace, an epidemiologist and assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
This is of great concern to health officials around the world, as younger people are more likely to use TikTok for advice on serious health issues that require professional medical evaluation.
A study led by Dr. Mackin Loveland, an internal medicine resident at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, reported that 40% of TikTok videos tagged with the term “liver disease” contained misinformation. These videos advocate alternative practices, but none of them have been vetted by experts.
“Despite the inaccurate posts being less popular, there is still a large amount of misinformation on the platform, leaving people with liver disease vulnerable to false claims,” Loveland said. “Given the high mortality rates associated with liver disease, spreading inaccurate claims on popular social media platforms could have serious clinical implications.”
Mental health topics report the highest levels of misinformation on TikTok. Because symptoms of mental illness are linked to emotional well-being, many users feel the need to provide advice and perform diagnoses for themselves or others. For example, many videos advocate deep breathing as a treatment for anxiety and use pseudoscience and astrology to explain certain behaviors.
Jackie Nesi said: “Diagnosing a mental illness is actually quite complex and there are a lot of different factors that play into it. People, especially young people, may be believing that they have a diagnosis that doesn’t actually apply to them.” Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University.
Nesi added that social media can use humor to minimize the severity of certain conditions, which can lead users to not take mental health seriously. It’s important to remember that TikTok can be a positive first step for people seeking health advice. Nesi says the platform’s humor creates a low-stigmatism environment, allowing people facing similar conditions to find support. That’s why we’re optimistic about the collaboration between WHO and TikTok because it allows for the same level of community building while encouraging safety and critical thinking.
Dr Jeremy said: “This collaboration could prove to be an inflection point in how platforms can become more socially responsible. The intersection of health and technology will enable people of all ages to access them wherever and when they want to access them. “It gives you the opportunity to do it,” he said. Farah, WHO Chief Scientist. “By collaborating with TikTok and others, we are helping people access trustworthy information and engage in scientific discourse that collectively helps shape a healthier future for all.”
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