TikTok’s nutrition misinformation puts youth at risk

Although younger generations often turn to TikTok for health and nutrition information, it is well-known for spreading misinformation that poses serious risks, including harmful dietary practices, body image issues and mental health concerns.

Researchers from Australia recently evaluated nutrition-related content on TikTok by identifying common topics and content creators, assessing content quality and accuracy using evidence-based frameworks, and analyzing engagement metrics.

Results showed not only that the vast majority of posts lacked accurate content but also that inaccurate posts receive significantly more interaction, suggesting TikTok’s…