TikTok has emerged as a popular platform for health advice, attracting millions of users. However, a recent investigation by Marketplace revealed that a high percentage of videos promoting cancer and autism treatments on the platform lack scientific backing.
Marketplace researchers scrutinized 100 videos on cancer treatments and another 100 on autism therapies. Shockingly, over 80% of the remedies featured in these videos, garnering more than 75 million views collectively, were not supported by scientific evidence.
Tim Caulfield, a health misinformation researcher, highlighted that these videos often gain traction due to compelling personal narratives. He emphasized that stories and testimonials play a significant role in promoting unproven therapies on social media.
The search on TikTok for cancer-related videos using terms like “cancer cure” and “cancer treatment,” and for autism-related videos using terms such as “autism cure,” “autism treatment,” and “autism,” yielded 100 videos each showcasing treatments or cures.
One prevalent claim in the analyzed cancer treatment videos was the notion that cancer feeds on sugar, leading to recommendations of anti-cancer diets or fasting as a cure. However, experts like Dr. Abha Gupta debunked this claim, asserting that sugar consumption does not cause cancer nor aid in its treatment.
Furthermore, some videos suggested using anti-parasitic drugs like fenbendazole and ivermectin to treat cancer, a claim refuted by experts like Dr. Gupta as baseless and dangerous. Similarly, unproven treatments such as chelation therapy for autism and stem cell therapies for autism, featured in the analyzed videos, were flagged as unsupported by scientific evidence and potentially harmful.
Creators of these videos often lacked medical expertise, with some promoting treatments for personal gain. The prevalence of such misleading health information on TikTok raises concerns among experts and advocates who condemn the dissemination of unscientific and exploitative content targeting vulnerable individuals seeking genuine solutions.
While many of the flagged videos have been removed, TikTok maintains policies against health misinformation that could pose significant harm. The platform emphasizes removing content violating guidelines and issuing warnings to users seeking medical advice, stressing the platform’s unsuitability for such purposes.