Over One-Fifth of Sexual Health Content on TikTok Is Misinformative, Study Finds
A new study reveals that over 20% of TikTok videos on sexual health contain inaccuracies, emphasizing the urgent need for improved health literacy and social media safeguards for youth.
Recent research presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics 2025 Conference highlights a concerning trend: more than 20% of TikTok videos related to sexual and reproductive health contain inaccurate or misleading information. The study analyzed top videos under keywords associated with sexual health, creating a fake profile representing a 15-year-old to simulate typical youth experiences on the platform. Results showed that 21.4% of videos made by non-medical professionals included false or dangerous advice, while only 3.4% of professionally created content was inaccurate. Misinformation ranged from safe to harmful, with some videos promoting unsafe practices such as inducing abortions.
Angeli Sirilan, a medical student at the University of Arizona College of Medicine—Phoenix and the study’s lead author, emphasized the risks of such misinformation. She pointed out that inconsistent school-based health education often drives young people to social media for answers, making it vital for educators, parents, and public health leaders to enhance both health literacy and social media literacy.
The study further revealed that for videos linked to abortion-related search terms, 26.7% contained inaccuracies compared to just 4.3% among general medical videos. Sirilan stressed the responsibility of social media platforms to implement safeguards and protect vulnerable youth from false health claims. Medical professionals are encouraged to actively dispel misconceptions and guide pediatric patients toward reputable sources.
The research underscores an urgent need for collective effort in regulating online health information to ensure youth access to safe, accurate, and reliable sexual health resources.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-sexual-health-tiktoks-inaccurate.html
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