TikTok influencers may be raising awareness about ADHD, but don't rely them for a diagnosis

Millions of TikTok users are watching influencers speak about their experiences of ADHD. But how useful is the information being shared?

- by DR ABBY RUSSELL

These days, more and more youngsters are turning to social media platforms such as TikTok for advice on everything from how to perform the latest K-pop dance moves to hacks on producing the perfect winged eyeliner. But should they be taking advice from social media influencers on more serious issues, such as mental health?

A recent study published by researchers in British Columbia, Canada, found that the 100 most popular TikTok videos tagged #ADHD clocked up a total of almost half a billion views.

ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) is clearly on TikTok users' minds. But what is the quality of information given out online, and what does it mean for the people who consume it?

It's important to note that ADHD has historically been considered by psychiatry, clinical psychology and mental health professionals to be a serious neurodevelopmental disorder that requires a professional clinical diagnosis.

Broadly speaking, the research team found that the TikToks lacked nuance, and that the majority of videos focused on people's lived experience of ADHD and on the symptoms they had.

Having symptoms that can be attributed to ADHD doesn't necessarily mean that you have it, though. And similarly, not everyone with ADHD has the same set of symptoms. The team also noted that around half of the videos studied focused on symptoms that aren't closely associated with ADHD to begin with.

Of course, both deliberate and accidental misinformation can be damaging, and although ADHD can bring certain strengths for many, it has historically been seen to be a psychiatric concern. For some, it can have a significant impact on their lives.