“Be cautious of people who appear very confident and are selling you something,” warns Vasileia Karasavva, a Ph.D. candidate in clinical psychology at the University of British Columbia. Her caution comes on the heels of a study that discovered fewer than half of the most-watched ADHD related videos on TikTok meet professional standards for diagnosis. This is no small matter when you consider the scope of the platform these videos have cumulatively been viewed nearly half a billion times.
ADHD content on TikTok is now a beacon for young adults who are seeking relevant commentary about their own mental lives. But popularity also contains risks. Researchers found that only 49% of the statements published in these videos actually reflect symptoms of ADHD as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The rest? Overgeneralized, not accurate, or descriptions of typical human behavior, such as hearing the same songs repeatedly or enjoying sweet foods.
Karasavva goes on, “Some behaviors were better described by different mental illnesses, some could be related to ADHD but were not diagnostic criteria, and some were not related to ADHD or other mental illnesses at all.” This blurry line can mislead viewers into being unable to tell good information from anecdotal content.
Perhaps most interestingly, the survey also reflected a lack of alignment between TikTok creators and mental health professionals. Just 20% of creators provided their qualifications, and not a single one was a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist. Further, 50% of creators had financial motivations, such as selling ADHD-related products or requesting donations. These two aspects of confidence and business can serve as an indicator of misinformation.
For young adults, TikTok’s short, relatable videos can be a lifeline to managing ADHD. Many are attracted to the platform due to barriers in receiving professional mental health care. “To get a diagnosis of ADHD, it’s a very expensive, long and involved process. People are frustrated by this and in a way, we have gatekept support on mental health,” Karasavva says. That frustration causes people to self-diagnose based on what they see online, which can reinforce myths about ADHD.
The study conducted interviews of 843 university students between the ages of 18–25 and divided them into three groups: non-ADHD, self-diagnosed ADHD, and those who have a correct diagnosis. Interestingly, self-diagnosers viewed the majority of the ADHD-related videos on TikTok and trusted it more as authentic. They were also more likely to overestimate the prevalence of ADHD, believing that it happens much more often than the known facts of 3–7% of adults worldwide.
This excess consumption of ADHD content distorts reality. Frequent viewers are more likely to pass on videos containing incorrect or outdated information, suggesting that they struggle to distinguish good content from false claims. Among self-proclaimed self-diagnosers, viewing these videos reinforced their belief that they did have ADHD, but non-sufferers began wondering if they could.
“Mental health exists on a spectrum, and social media is democratizing access to this information,” Karasavva says. But this leveling has dangers. Anecdotal evidence is simplistic, failing to appreciate that the traits of ADHD can be highly variable and can overlap with depression or anxiety.
Clinical psychologists scored the highest accurate ADHD TikTok videos at a grade of 3.6 out of 5 while young adults scored lower at 2.8. Psychologists graded the lowest accurate videos at a score of 1.1 but got a much higher score of 2.3 from young adults. This is to show that professional involvement in platforms like TikTok is imperative.
“Some young adults turn to TikTok because of access barriers, or negative experiences they have had with mental health professionals,” says Dr. Amori Mikami, UBC professor of psychology and co-senior author of the study. She emphasizes the importance of addressing equity gaps in mental health care to ensure young people can access accurate, evidence-based resources.
So, how do you avoid falling into the trap of misinformation? Experts recommend checking information on TikTok with reputable sources like medical websites or healthcare professionals. If you think you have ADHD, question whether stress, anxiety, or mental overload might be behind your issues before jumping to conclusions.
TikTok can at most be a platform to increase awareness and reduce stigma, but must only be supplemented, not replaced, by professional guidance. To learn more about how TikTok is creating the perceptions of ADHD, see this study or learn more about ADHD myths. To view deeper analysis on how young adults are evaluating ADHD content, see this analysis.
