A recent study conducted by Canadian researchers has revealed a concerning trend regarding public health information on social media: while the majority of TikTok content involving sunscreen is supportive of its use, material that spreads misinformation often garners significantly higher levels of engagement. By tracking nearly 1,000 of the most-watched videos on the platform, the research team found that although 87% of creators advocated for sunscreen application, the fringe videos containing negative claims or outright falsehoods experienced a disproportionately high volume of likes, shares, and comments compared to their factual counterparts.
Australian science communicator Dr. Michelle Wong, known for her work at Lab Muffin Beauty Science, noted that these findings align with long-standing patterns of how viral content functions online. She explained that misinformation serves as a catalyst for engagement because it often relies on contrarian or alarmist ideas that trigger a stronger emotional response from viewers. Because algorithms prioritize content that keeps users active and debating, this sensationalist material is pushed further into the feeds of broader audiences, even if it represents a minority viewpoint regarding total sunscreen discourse.
The danger of this dynamic, according to Dr. Wong, is that misinformation does not need to be ubiquitous to be effective. Even when conspiracy-laden content remains a statistical minority, repeated exposure lowers the barrier of skepticism, causing audiences to perceive false claims as increasingly accurate over time. This normalization of pseudoscience can have real-world consequences for public health, as viewers who rely on social media for skin-care advice may be influenced to forego vital protection against UV radiation based on trending but unfounded fears.
Perhaps more concerning than overt misinformation is the prevalence of “subtle” misinformation found in otherwise reputable-looking content. Dr. Wong pointed out that videos appearing to be pro-sunscreen often include small, inaccurate details, making them arguably more persuasive to the average viewer. Because this content often originates from individuals perceived as authorities—such as medical doctors or scientists—the misinformation is masked by a veil of credibility, making it difficult for the audience to discern where the legitimate scientific advice ends and the potentially harmful inaccuracy begins.
The study further highlighted a significant gap in the public health narrative: the failure to position sunscreen as part of a broader “sun-safe” toolkit. The researchers found that only 7.2% of pro-sunscreen videos mentioned alternative forms of sun protection, such as hats, clothing, or shade. Dr. Wong emphasized that this is a critical oversight. In Australia, public health messaging has long maintained that sunscreen should be viewed only as the “last line of defense,” yet the lack of holistic advice on TikTok leaves users under the false impression that sunscreen is a standalone solution that guarantees total safety.
Moving forward, the findings serve as a stark reminder of the influence social media wields over public health perceptions. While the majority of the community continues to promote protective habits, the “virality” of misinformation presents an ongoing challenge for health communicators and scientists. As engagement metrics continue to incentivize contrarian content, it becomes increasingly clear that the scientific community must become more adept at competing for attention in the digital space, ensuring that factual, nuanced, and comprehensive sun-safety advice is just as accessible—and engaging—as the misinformation that currently captures the algorithm.
