TikTok Removes Misinformation on Birth Control After Independent Investigation
A recent investigation by The Independent, in collaboration with tech company Alethea, has uncovered a concerning trend of birth control misinformation spreading on TikTok. Three prominent wellness influencers, boasting a collective reach of 15 million viewers, disseminated unproven claims about the risks of birth control, often presented in aesthetically pleasing and engaging videos. These videos garnered over 21,000 shares between February 2021 and July 2024, raising alarms about the potential impact on young audiences. The misinformation included exaggerating the risks of birth control, falsely claiming herbal supplements like Queen Anne’s Lace as effective contraceptives, and promoting the unsubstantiated notion of "detoxing" after stopping birth control.
The Independent and Alethea identified 115 videos tagged with #birthcontrol out of 1,449 total videos posted by the influencers during the investigated period. The investigation also revealed the strategic use of hashtags like #womenshealth, #truth, #holistichealth, #fertilityawareness, and #holistichealing to amplify the reach of these misleading narratives beyond the influencers’ immediate follower base. These influencers also disseminated similar content on other platforms like Instagram and YouTube, further expanding the potential for harm. The Independent contacted TikTok for a response regarding action taken on these hashtags, but received no reply.
Expert opinion from Dr. Viki Male, a senior lecturer in reproductive immunology at Imperial College London, underscores the dangers of this misinformation. Dr. Male emphasized that while contraceptives carry some risks, they are significantly lower than the risks associated with pregnancy. She debunked the effectiveness of Queen Anne’s Lace as a contraceptive and clarified that there is no scientific basis for the "detox" concept after stopping hormonal birth control, except for the injectable form which is designed for a slower release. Dr. Male acknowledged the possibility of side effects with any medication, including contraceptives, but reiterated the overall safety and effectiveness of hormonal birth control.
Following The Independent’s presentation of their findings, TikTok took action by removing content that falsely claimed birth control risks outweigh its benefits and promoted Queen Anne’s Lace as a contraceptive. Content related to "detoxing" after birth control remains on the platform. Significantly, TikTok also removed similar content from other influencers not initially flagged by The Independent, demonstrating a broader effort to address the issue. The platform stated that the removed videos violated its policies on medical misinformation.
This incident highlights the increasing reliance on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram as primary information sources, particularly for Gen Z. Studies show that these platforms have overtaken traditional search engines for local searches among this demographic. This shift underscores the growing influence of social media on health information consumption, particularly for young women who constitute a significant portion of TikTok users. This reliance, coupled with the prevalence of misinformation, necessitates proactive efforts by healthcare professionals and communication specialists to utilize these platforms for disseminating accurate health information.
TikTok’s response, while commendable, underscores the ongoing challenge of effectively combating misinformation on social media. The platform’s community guidelines prohibit content that could cause significant harm, but allow personal stories and experiences regarding medical treatment as long as they don’t contain harmful misinformation. Defining "harmful misinformation" remains a complex task. TikTok currently defines it as inaccurate medical advice discouraging appropriate medical care for life-threatening diseases or misinformation causing negative health effects. The platform has partnered with the World Health Organization to promote reliable mental wellbeing content and combat disinformation through a network of trusted healthcare professionals active on TikTok. However, the ongoing presence of some misinformation highlights the need for continuous monitoring and refinement of strategies to address this critical issue.
