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Quality and Perception of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Content on TikTok: Cross-Sectional Study
Katharina Sieferle1, Tiziana Guidi1, Florence Dorr1
1Public Health and Health Education, University of Education Freiburg, Kunzenweg 21, Freiburg im Breisgau, 79117, Germany, 49 761 682755.
Many TikTok videos about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are misleading. A significant number of viewers self-identify with behaviors shown, potentially increasing misdiagnosis and highlighting the need for critical evaluation of online health information.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health
- Social Media Analysis
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Background:
- Social media platforms like TikTok are increasingly used for health information.
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a trending topic on TikTok.
- Concerns exist regarding the accuracy of health information on TikTok, potentially leading to misinformation and self-diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the quality and usefulness of popular ADHD videos on TikTok.
- To analyze viewer perceptions of ADHD content through video comments.
Main Methods:
- Scraped 125 popular ADHD TikTok videos (July 2021-November 2023).
- Categorized videos as "misleading," "personal experience," or "useful."
- Evaluated video quality using the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Audiovisual Materials and analyzed 100 comments per video for self-identification.
Main Results:
- 50.4% of videos were categorized as misleading, 30.4% as personal experience, and 19.2% as useful.
- Useful videos scored significantly higher in understandability (92.3%) compared to misleading or personal experience videos.
- 36.7% of comments showed viewer resonance with depicted ADHD behaviors, with personal experience videos prompting the most self-attribution of behavioral patterns (17%).
Conclusions:
- A high proportion of misleading ADHD content on TikTok, coupled with significant user self-identification, may contribute to misdiagnosis.
- There is a critical need for users to evaluate health information on social media critically.
- Healthcare professionals should address misconceptions about ADHD stemming from social media platforms.
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