Introduction

In an era where mental health conversations are more visible than ever, social media is both a lifeline for awareness and a minefield of misinformation. In recent years, social media has become a powerful tool for raising awareness about mental health, amplifying voices that were once marginalized and creating communities of shared experiences. However, this increased visibility comes at a cost. Social media operates like a breeding ground for viral misinformation, where anyone can present themselves as an expert, leading to an outbreak of falsehoods. The spread of mental health information on these platforms is often hazy, quickly infecting public understanding. This creates a tangled web where social media serves both as a vehicle for raising awareness and as a host for the misuse of mental health language, mutating the perception of mental health in the media. We are currently facing a rapidly spreading misinformation epidemic.

Trivializing Serious Conditions: The Danger of Misused Terminology

Social media has undeniably played a crucial role in spreading mental health awareness. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter have become places where individuals share their struggles and coping mechanisms, helping others feel less alone. However, the improper use of mental health terminology can trivialize serious conditions. A recent TikTok trend where users describe “impulse vs. intrusive thoughts” highlights this issue (Morrison, 2022). Many users label their fleeting “weird” thoughts as intrusive without understanding the term’s clinical significance, particularly for those with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This misuse not only creates misinformation but also contributes to stigma, as it reduces complex mental health issues that thousands of patients face to fleeting internet trends that influencers use to get their reels viral.

Commercial Exploitation of Mental Health Narratives

Social media platforms are also rife with businesses exploiting mental health narratives to sell products under the guise of caring (Gobel et al., 2023). Advertisements flood timelines with quick fixes and misleading promises. The history of Prozac marketing in Japan, where increased advertising led to a surge in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) diagnoses, demonstrates how commercial interests can drive mental health narratives (Kirmayer, 2002). While increased awareness might seem like a positive outcome, it often leads to self-diagnosis based on limited and stereotypical perspectives of complex disorders.

Telehealth and the Risk of Misdiagnosis

In today’s landscape, telehealth companies use TikTok to promote their services by discussing mental health symptoms that resonate with vulnerable audiences. However, these quick, surface-level assessments can lead to diagnoses being handed out without proper evaluation, risking patients’ lives (Koehler & Parrell, 2020). Some companies provide diagnoses within minutes, often without a licensed mental health professional conducting a thorough screening. As a result, individuals may be misdiagnosed and prescribed medications without proper oversight, leading to potentially harmful outcomes (Smardon, 2008).

The Power of Shared Experiences: A Double-Edged Community

Despite the pitfalls, social media can provide a sense of community for those grappling with mental health issues. Many psychologists and patients appreciate these platforms for their ability to create a space where individuals feel seen and understood. People openly share their symptoms, the challenges they’ve faced, and how they’ve managed their conditions, creating a tapestry of shared experiences that people with similar symptoms can relate to (Karim et al., 2020). This can be incredibly validating, especially for those who feel isolated in their struggles and help them take the step towards diagnosis.

However, while relatable, these shared experiences are not always reliable. Many of the voices in these spaces are not mental health professionals, and the information they share can be inaccurate or misleading. The nuances of mental health conditions can vary significantly from person to person, making self-diagnosis based on another’s experience dangerous. A study found that only 1 in 5 of 100 ADHD TikTok ads were useful, underscoring the prevalence of misinformation on social media (Yeung et al., 2022). While these platforms can foster connection, they can also perpetuate misunderstandings about mental health conditions.

Conclusions

Social media has made mental health awareness more accessible than ever, but it has also made it less reliable. While it has brought mental health discussions into the mainstream and fostered supportive communities, it simultaneously distorts and dilutes critical information, leading to the misuse of mental health terminology and misconceptions about disorders. Given the prevalence of inaccurate information, it is crucial for individuals to seek professional guidance rather than relying solely on social media for advice or self-diagnosis. For social media to be a truly effective platform for mental health awareness, there must be a commitment to responsible information sharing. Clear distinctions between personal storytelling and professional medical advice are essential to prevent harm. Only through a more discerning approach can we ensure that social media’s potential as a force for good in mental health is fully realized, rather than allowing it to contribute to a culture of confusion and stigma.

References

• Gobel, S. A. M., Elnovani Lusiana, & Susanne Dida. (2023). Mental Health Promotion: Stop Self-Diagnosing Through Social Media. Jurnal Promkes, 11(1), 71–81. https://doi.org/10.20473/jpk.v11.i1.2023.71-81
• Karim, F., Oyewande, A., Abdalla, L., Ehsanullah, R., & Khan, S. (2020). Social Media Use and Its Connection to Mental Health: A Systematic Review. Cureus, 12(6). National Library of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.8627
• Kirmayer, L. J. (2002). Psychopharmacology in a Globalizing World: The Use of Antidepressants in Japan. Transcultural Psychiatry, 39(3), 295–322. https://doi.org/10.1177/136346150203900302
• Koehler, S., & Parrell, B. (2020). The impact of social media on mental health: A mixed-methods research of service providers’ awareness. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2131&context=etd
• Morrison, S. (2022, August 29). “Scary easy. Sketchy as hell.”: How startups are pushing Adderall on TikTok. Vox. https://www.vox.com/recode/23310326/tiktok-adhd-telehealth-done-adderall
• Smardon, R. (2008). “I’d rather not take Prozac”: stigma and commodification in antidepressant consumer narratives. Health, 12(1), 67–86. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26649888Yeung, A., Ng, E., & Abi-Jaoude, E. (2022). TikTok and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study of Social Media Content Quality. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 67(12), 070674372210828. https://doi.org/10.1177/07067437221082854

Authors: Prof. Garima Rajan, Faculty of Psychology, FLAME University, & Megha Misra, Undergraduate Student, FLAME University.