It is no surprise at this point to hear that social media platforms are purveyors of both mis- and disinformation. Misinformation is false information that is spread unintentionally, such as repeating a rumor or not realizing content is inaccurate and sharing it on one’s feed. Disinformation is far more insidious and reflects the deliberate spread of falsehoods, oftentimes as a means for profit, power, and/or inciting chaos. Practically, both spread like wildfire on social media platforms.
Health and Wellness Information on TikTok
Given the significant decline in traditionally trusted institutions such as the government and/or health care industry, many users are turning to social media platforms to specifically gain health and wellness information. For instance, researchers have identified that TikTok has become a prominent source of health information for young users in particular, who oftentimes turn to this source for nutritional information (Zeng et al., 2025). Platforms such as TikTok, however, oftentimes spread false and misleading health information, including glorifying weight loss and promoting unrealistic images of both bodies and beauty more generally targeted at female users in particular.
In fact, Zeng et al. (2025) identified through their research that a disproportionate amount of content related to diet and nutrition is being fueled on TikTok by wellness influencers who are not credentialed or experts in the field, while only 4 to 5 percent of the content users are consuming in this space are coming from actual experts. Additionally, this research has identified that content specifically about diet and weight loss is the least likely to reflect accuracy, relative to other types of content that wellness influencers may be producing.
Such findings demonstrate a disturbing reality: In our increasingly digitally dependent world, the influx of information consumers are exposed to can be overwhelming, and volume in resource isn’t necessarily translating to quality or accuracy of what users are consuming. There is also a blurring of lines between selling products to users on TikTok and consumption of content, as this same study identified the majority of wellness influencers (over 80 percent) lacked transparency in identifying advertising on their content, in addition to failing to disclose any conflicts of interest regarding content they were releasing (Zeng et al., 2025).
Science Under Attack
We are living in an era when science is under attack. Ironically, this may be compelling more users to migrate to alternative sources for their health or wellness concerns. For instance, rather than seeing a doctor, last year, a reported 86 percent of Americans turned to social media platforms for advice on health (Khan, 2024). Without the safeguards in place on social media platforms such as TikTok, users are left to try and navigate increasingly difficult terrain regarding deciphering what is accurate or not on their feeds. Traditional media gatekeepers are not present on social media sites—especially given the lack of regulation and minimal content moderation many platforms have recently pivoted towards.
In the online world, expertise is not based on any universal standard or credentials but, rather, on who has the most followers or is able to engage a wider audience. Virality has replaced legitimacy in spreading content far and wide, despite disturbing inaccuracies in how health and wellness are being packaged and presented to the public.
So, by all means, try that new juice fad or that “internal shower” of chia seed water. However, buyer beware: If you don’t experience the benefits of whatever advice you received online, there is no regulatory body to hold Big Tech or individual social media influencers accountable for what may just turn out to be a scam.
Copyright Azadeh Aalai 2025