That’s not always a bad thing, experts say. Lots of mental health content creators are licensed therapists, social workers, or physicians with extensive clinical experience. Others share lessons from their own mental health journey that help the audience feel less alone.
But health information on social media can change quickly. Since mental health content gets strong reactions, creators could use it to improve their opinions. Some influencers present fringe theories as fact or misrepresent their qualifications. And since engaging with this type of content means social media algorithms will show you more, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
Mental health is important, and so is the information you consume. Here are six simple questions to help you determine if a piece of online content is useful and true.
What are the qualifications of the creator?
Being a healthcare or social work professional doesn’t automatically make you a mental health expert, but it doesn’t hurt.
Trustworthy creators should list their qualifications in their bio so the public knows what their background is, said Kali Hobson, a doctor specializing in adult and child psychiatry who creates TikToks by the handle. @drkalimd. Licensed therapists, counselors, social workers, nurses, and doctors are more likely to share real health information.
Some creators aren’t mental health professionals, and that’s OK as long as they’re honest about their qualifications and avoid giving medical advice, said Christine Gibson, a doctor-turned-trauma doctor who makes TikToks at the handle. @tiktoktraumadoc. Just make sure creators don’t present themselves as experts when they’re actually enthusiasts, she said. Be wary of slippery titles like “coach” or “expert” that don’t give much insight into a person’s training.
Can you find any research on the topic?
If you’re interested in a mental health topic, research it outside of social media, Hobson said.
Google Scholar is a search engine specifically intended for academic research. When I typed in “treat anxiety and depression,” for example, the top results included research on the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of mindfulness, mental health apps, and ‘acupuncture. Click on a study and read the section titled “summary” for a summary of its findings. The National Institute of Mental Health also sheets on various mental health problems.
Psychology research does not always reflect people’s real experiences. For much of the field’s history, researchers and study subjects were overwhelmingly white and male, said Leandro Olszanski, a licensed counselor who creates TikToks by the handle. @tu.terapeuta.en.tiktok. That means women, people of color and members of the LGBTQ community often don’t see their experiences reflected, said Jennie “Toli” Gintoli, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist who creates TikToks by the handle. @quirky.queer.therapist.
If you’re worried that researchers and practitioners won’t understand your experience, don’t abandon your fact-finding mission, Gintoli said. Today, various professionals are working to fill gaps in our understanding of mental health. Seek Community centers Or student organizations in your area, send an email to a licensed professional who shares your identity or find an online community that can direct you to real-world resources.
How does your body feel?
Just like some people in real life make you feel exhausted after hanging out, social media content can make you feel worse than before.
As you scroll, check in with your body, Gibson suggested. Do you feel calm and interested in the message of the video? Or do you feel anxious, irritable, or disconnected? These signals tell us when content is not useful. If your body or brain feels numb or you feel pressure to keep searching for some sort of “solution,” it’s time to walk away, she said.
Valid, helpful content should make you feel encouraged – not desperate, angry or conspiratorial.
Who else is talking about it?
If a particular concept — such as trauma, attachment styles or meditation — jumps out at you, type it into the search bar and see what other creators are talking about it, Gintoli said. Are most other videos made by licensed professionals, or is the topic a favorite among non-experts? Also check the comments sections. Are there many comments from mental health professionals disagreeing with the video’s claims?
Is this a generalization or an emphasis on diagnosis rather than symptoms?
Social media is not the place to diagnose yourself or others, Gintoli said. If you’re going through a painful breakup, for example, diagnosing your ex with clinical narcissism may feel good in the moment, but it won’t fix those feelings of hurt and betrayal.
Sometimes patients come to Gintoli worried they have a particular disorder after seeing a social media post, she said. Rather than focusing on a diagnosis, it helps them understand their symptoms and how to fix them.
Not everyone experiences mental illness in the same way. When creators mention specific symptoms, situations or feelings as if they were true for anyone suffering from a particular illness, that’s a red flag, Hobson said. For example, a video listing “symptoms of dissociative identity disorder” may be accurate for the creator themselves, but others might experience the same disorder differently. The same goes for treatment: what works for one person may not work for another.
If a creator diagnoses people online, unfollow them. And remember, no diagnosis means you’re broken or incapable of living a good life.
“I try to explain to my clients and to people in general that just because you meet the criteria for a disorder does not mean that it is part of your identity or that you will always meet the criteria for a disorder” , Olszanski said.
Is this pretending to be a treatment?
The lines between social media and “real life” are not always as clear as they are made out to be. Social media can play a real role in our journey toward better mental health, but it can’t replace the kind of individualized treatment you’d receive from a therapist, Gintoli said.
If you’re worried about finding a therapist who understands your background and experiences, use Psychology Today’s search tools, InclusiveTherapists.com or InnoPsych to filter based on your needs.
Whatever it is, find someone you can reach out to when you’re feeling down.
“Maybe he’s not a relative. Maybe he’s not a therapist. Maybe he’s a friend. Maybe it’s someone you met on Discord,” Gintoli said. “TikTok is not therapy. However, I have made some amazing friends on TikTok.
TikTok said it supports people sharing their personal wellness journey and will remove medical misinformation.
