Misinformation on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) on social media platforms like TikTok, is concerningly shaping how youths view this condition.
ADHD is a popular topic on TikTok, with over 11.4 billion views using the hashtag.
Many ADHD experts and non-experts are on the social media platform to help explain the condition to online viewers.
Social media is unreliable
In a recent study done by PhD student Vasileia Karasavva, colleagues and two clinical psychologists found that the top one hundred most popular ADHD videos on the app were 94 per cent unreliable, with millions of views and no cited sources.
Consultant and coach, Dr Michele Toner, has a long history of working with university students and individuals with ADHD, and recently started coaching individuals with ADHD.
Dr Toner said social media can be “very irresponsible at times”.
“People need to be mindful to really only trust reputable websites like government websites or the Australasian ADHD professionals association.”
Unqualified individuals who use social media platforms to preach their knowledge on conditions like ADHD, pose a real threat to people who are affected ADHD, however they are unaware of the symptoms they should be identifying.
“It’s actually dangerous when someone uses their experience as sort of gospel truth because everyone’s experience is different,” said Dr Toner.
“As an ADHD coach and specialist, ADHD coaches are really well qualified to recognise everyone’s different needs.”
The importance of expert advice
Edith Cowan University student, Giordana Incani, is medically diagnosed with ADHD.
She said this correct diagnosis and appropriate medication has helped her achieve her academic best.
Incani believes there is a big difference between self-diagnosing oneself to begin understanding their condition and self-diagnosing on TikTok to gain attention and likes on social media.
“I think self-diagnosis is part of the journey,” said Ms Incani.
“People tend to self-diagnose for attention on social media to get clicks and views.
“They will post them[selves] being a generalised ADHD person, for example, being hyperactive, loud, and talkative.”
Ms Icani believes It’s important for individuals to do the research on the topic, instead of just taking to platforms like TikTok to gain all the answers.
“I took the time talking to others and researching and reading articles by professionals,” she said.
Dr Toner believes that it’s important for people who have been self-diagnosing online to go to a professional to get treated correctly, as many people go undiagnosed and struggle with their conditions.
“I would be encouraging people if they think they have ADHD to just see a specialist because particularly in adults we’re still under diagnosing ADHD.
“It’s really important for them[selves] to investigate,” said Dr Toner.
Platforms like TikTok are a useful tool in spreading news, knowledge, and information to a wider audience.
However, when the information is incorrect, such as the majority of ADHD information on TikTok, it can cause a more harmful impact on the people who have difficulty coping with conditions like ADHD.
“ADHD was already misunderstood even before the rise of social media.
“Platforms like TikTok, allow others to spread misinformation on the topic easier,” said Ms Incani.
“Social media made ADHD seem like I had to constantly be bouncing off the walls,” she said.
“I later found through talking to others with ADHD and professionals, was that ADHD looks different in everyone, especially between boys and girls.”
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Raising awareness
Not all individuals with ADHD find this content on TikTok to be harming.
Millie Burns is medically diagnosed with ADHD and believes there are benefits to watching this content.
“I think it’s helpful from what I’ve seen because in the real-world ADHD descriptions can be really misleading.
“No one really talks about [it], especially in girls, I feel like it’s not talked about enough,” said Ms Burns.
There has been benefits to this topic becoming popular on TikTok, as the platform has increased people’s awareness of ADHD.
Ms Burns said TikToks about ADHD drew attention to certain traits and symptoms that she hadn’t previously recognised in herself.
“I never would’ve realised [otherwise] so I think that’s really cool.”
When learning about symptoms from social media, it’s important for all individuals who might think they have ADHD to talk to a professional to be correctly diagnosed.
