New Study Raises Concerns About Inaccurate Autism Information on TikTok
In recent years, the popular social media platform TikTok has become a hub for sharing content related to autism. However, concerns have been raised about the accuracy of the information being shared on the platform.
Researchers from Drexel University’s A.J. Drexel Autism Institute conducted a thorough examination of TikTok videos focusing on autism and found that a significant portion of the content is inconsistent with current clinical knowledge.
TikTok’s immense popularity, with over two billion mobile downloads worldwide in 2020, prompted the researchers to investigate its role in disseminating information about autism. They specifically focused on videos associated with the “#Autism” hashtag and examined engagement metrics such as views and “likes.” Out of the top 133 videos providing informational content about autism and amassing nearly 200 million views and 25 million “likes,” the findings revealed that 27% were accurate, 41% were inaccurate, and 32% were overgeneralized.
Interestingly, there were no significant differences in engagement levels between accurate and inaccurate or overgeneralized videos. However, the researchers found that content produced healthcare professionals was more likely to provide accurate information.
Elisabeth Sheridan, PhD, director of Clinical Core and co-author of the study, emphasized the need to be aware of the potentially misleading information circulated on TikTok, especially within the autism community. She stated, “Given the reach of TikTok autism content, it’s important that stakeholders in the autism community, including autistic individuals, family members, and clinicians interfacing with autism, are aware of the unfiltered nature of the information presented.”
Individuals with autism and their families have expressed concerns about misinformation, such as anti-vaccination myths, proliferating on TikTok. While social media can provide a valuable space for sharing lived experiences and building a sense of community, it is crucial to recognize the potential harm that misinformation can inflict on individuals with autism and their families.
Giacomo Vivanti, PhD, an associate professor in the Autism Institute and co-author of the study, stressed the importance of monitoring and fighting misinformation that can damage those on the autism spectrum and their families. He also highlighted the need for the scientific community to gain perspective on how autism and current approaches to autism are perceived and experienced the large community of TikTok users.
The team’s findings were published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. This study serves as a reminder to be cautious when consuming information about autism on social media platforms like TikTok, as not all the content may be accurate or representative of the full spectrum of autism manifestations.
Overall, it is essential to ensure that accurate and reliable information is readily available to individuals with autism and their families, and that efforts are made to combat misinformation in online spaces.
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