TikTok and Self-Diagnosis

Since its launch in 2016, TikTok has become one of the most ubiquitous social media platforms. Its combination of short audiovisual content and algorithmic recommendations makes it an easy app to use. There were over 121 million US-based TikTok users in 2023, and approximately 63% of teens use the platform daily. More and more US users are getting their news and political commentary from TikTok, especially young adults. TikTok has become a source of information on a broad range of topics, including behavioral health. Self-diagnosis is not a recent phenomenon—remember looking up symptoms on WebMD and concluding you had cancer?—but we are now seeing the impact of social media, including TikTok, on users' perceptions of their own behavioral health. Many adolescents and young adults are using content from TikTok to self-diagnosis behavioral health conditions, and in a lot of cases, they are misdiagnosing themselves (Caron, 2022).

TikTok and the Behavioral Health Community

There is no denying how impactful TikTok has been on behavioral health. Content creators have the freedom to talk about a wide range of topics, including personal aspects of their lives. Creators who have a behavioral health condition will talk about their lived experience, which contributes to the destigmatization of conditions and a fostering of supportive communities for those who share them. Many creators and their followers also talk about access to resources: coping mechanisms, websites, thought patterns, and other strategies that help with navigating a particular challenge.

The Problem With Misinformation

With so many adolescents and young adults getting their information about behavioral health conditions from TikTok, it is worth evaluating the quality of the content. In a study of the top #ADHD content on TikTok, researchers found that fewer than 50% of the ADHD symptoms discussed actually aligned with those listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Karasavva et al., 2025). Autism content on TikTok also has a misinformation problem: A study found that over 70% of the most popular #Autism videos were inaccurate or overgeneralized (Aragon-Guevara et al., 2023). If social media is the only resource a person has, they are likely starting out with information that does not reflect sound, scientific knowledge.

Behavioral health content creators do not have to have credentials in behavioral health. In fact, current assessment of behavioral health TikTok content shows that the majority of creators are non-healthcare professionals (Basch et al., 2022; Yeung et al., 2022). Many content creators cite their lived experience in having a particular disorder or condition. While this can be empowering and help foster community, it also opens the door to misinformation through the overgeneralization of symptoms or traits.

TikTok and other short-form video content sites are limited by the platforms themselves. Videos are short, easily digestible, and often feature a creator talking to the viewer, creating an intimate setting. Creators want their content to be seen by a wide audience for monetization, and the platforms' algorithms play a key role in distribution. Content that is controversial or surprising tends to get more views and interactions; this goes for behavioral health content as well. Psychoeducational videos about conditions – with all the caveats of seeking professional diagnosis and understanding that having any of the symptoms discussed does not necessarily mean you have a condition – are not as enticing.

Viewers also engage in confirmation bias by interacting with and watching more videos that support their current personal view of behavioral health. There are fact-checking policies in place for TikTok, but with over a billion users worldwide, it's an uphill battle. TikTok is great for peer support and personal expression, but the platform is not well-designed for research-based content that requires nuance (Karasavva et al., 2025).

The Proliferation of Self-Diagnoses

TikTok’s algorithm is specific to each user based on how they interact with a particular video. This process creates echo chambers that contribute to self-diagnosing. In a study on ADHD self-diagnosing with TikTok (Karasavva et al., 2025), participants watched the most popular #ADHD TikTok videos. Those who disclosed that they self-diagnosed ADHD were surer of their ADHD after watching the videos; those who disclosed that they did not believe that had ADHD were less sure of their lack of diagnosis after watching the same videos.

We cannot fault people who self-diagnose. With long wait times for services and the impact of insurance barriers on behavioral health providers, it can be extremely difficult for people to find quality mental health care. Behavioral health information is readily available online, and there are communities for support already established. Clinicians already familiar with Erikson’s stages of development know that adolescents are seeking identity and belonging. TikTok offers that.

Self-diagnosis carries risks:. Adolescents and young adults who self-diagnose run the risk of misidentifying or misattributing their symptoms. Psychologists undfergo advanced training to understand neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions and how they develop over time. Clinical diagnostics incorporate history, observation, and testing to arrive at an appropriate diagnosis. While self-diagnosis may seem alluring, it is often not consistent with a clinical diagnosis. In a recent study on traits in self-reported adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) traits and clinically diagnosed adults with ASD, there was no significant correlation between the two groups in terms of traits of ASD (Banker et al., 2025). Findings suggest there is still considerable value in a clinical diagnosis conducted by a trained professional in evaluating symptoms.

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Another potential risk is inappropriate treatment. Treatment is often linked to proper identification of symptoms and diagnoses. Are one's social difficulties due to autism, ADHD, anxiety, or something else? Each condition requires different treatment approaches, and misidentification or self-diagnosis of symptoms can lead to inappropriate interventions or delays in receiving appropriate treatment.

There is also the risk of missed comorbidities or alternative diagnoses. Many behavioral health conditions are multifactorial and have high comorbidity. Psychologists are trained to look more objectively at symptoms to understand the conditions impacting the individual.

What Clinicians Can Do

It can be difficult to work with patients who come in with a strongly held belief regarding a diagnosis. It is important to keep in mind that the diagnosis is serving some purpose for them, whether it’s access to a community space, explanation for experiences, or symptom of maladaptive media consumption. There are techniques clinicians can implement when working with adolescents and young adults with self-diagnoses:

• Validate concerns without being dismissive. Patients who engage in self-diagnosis are doing so for a reason. Clinicians should approach these adolescents and young adults with empathy and openness. Be honest and transparent about the process; you are not there to invalidate an identity they have adopted but to help them understand their constellation of symptoms and receive appropriate care. Be open and be curious.
• Psychoeducation. Adolescents and young adults who get the majority of their information on behavioral health conditions on TikTok may not have access to high-quality psychoeducation. Clinicians should be prepared to share validated resources such as websites, articles, and books regarding the behavioral health condition the patient has questions about.
• Provide quality digital-literacy resources. Patients need information about digital literacy in order to start evaluating content on their own. Clinicians should start with understanding the quantity and quality of digital media use in the patient’s life.
• Consider outreach. Content creation is not for the faint of heart. Psychologists who provide psychoeducation online must balance their role as a professional with creating content that gets shared.

A version of this article was published in the Division 46 newsletter, The Amplifier.

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