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"Do You Know What Birth Control Actually Does to Your Body?": Assessing Contraceptive Information on TikTok
Caroline de Moel-Mandel1, Arielle Donnelly1, Megan Bugden1
1Department of Public Health, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia.
Introduction:
Social media platforms have rapidly become key sources of contraceptive health information, shaping the beliefs and behaviors of individuals of reproductive age. Yet, it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish accurate content from misleading information, potentially leading to higher unintended pregnancy rates. Given the limited insights into the quality and reliability of contraceptive information on TikTok, this cross-sectional study aimed to systematically evaluate popular TikTok content on contraception created by various users to identify and analyze misinformation.
Method:
Between August and September 2023, we analyzed 100 videos from the top five hashtags related to contraception methods (#birthcontrol, #contraception, #thepill, #naturalbirthcontrol, and #cycletracking) to assess the characteristics of the health information presented and their quality, using the DISCERN tool.
Results:
The TikTok videos collectively received 4.85 billion views. Only 10% were created by medical professionals. Overall, the content showed poor reliability and quality, indicating a prominent presence of contraceptive health misinformation. Furthermore, there was a concerning trend favoring natural contraceptive methods over hormonal options, often without appropriate risk disclosures, accompanied by a growing distrust in health professionals.
Discussion:
The rise of contraceptive misinformation on social media is re-shaping patient-provider relationships and impacting contraceptive beliefs. TikTok offers an excellent public health opportunity to disseminate accurate contraceptive information accessible to all individuals, regardless of their background or resources. To address the observed distrust in health professionals, it is essential to improve contraceptive care quality and promote shared decision-making, which would likely increase satisfaction with contraceptive choices and mitigate negative narratives online.
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