TikTok, a popular platform for health advice, often showcases videos promoting cancer and autism treatments that lack scientific support, as per a recent investigation by Marketplace. The study analyzed 200 videos discussing cancer and autism therapies, revealing that over 80% of the remedies presented in these videos, accumulating more than 75 million views, lacked scientific backing.
These videos gain traction due to compelling personal narratives, noted Tim Caulfield, a health misinformation researcher, who emphasized the persuasive nature of stories in promoting unproven therapies on social media platforms.
In the cancer-related videos, claims promoting anti-cancer diets and fasting as a cure were prevalent, with one video, now removed, suggesting that cancer thrives on high-sugar foods and can be eradicated by consuming low-sugar alternatives like avocados and eggs. However, oncologist Dr. Abha Gupta debunked this, stating that sugar consumption does not cause cancer or aid in its treatment.
Another unsupported claim found in the videos was the use of anti-parasitic drugs such as fenbendazole and ivermectin to treat cancer. These drugs were touted as cancer cures in nine videos, with a combined view count of 1.3 million, despite lacking scientific evidence to support such assertions.
In the autism-related videos, dangerous treatments like chelation therapy, usually used for heavy metal poisoning, were promoted as beneficial for improving communication and behavior in children with autism. However, pediatrician Dr. Melanie Penner cautioned against such claims, highlighting the potential risks and adverse effects associated with these unproven treatments.
Stem cell therapies for autism, featured in several videos, were also scrutinized for their lack of scientific approval in Canada for treating autism. The investigation revealed that misleading information and potentially harmful treatments were disseminated by creators on TikTok, some of whom had financial interests in promoting these therapies.
TikTok responded to the findings by stating that the platform prohibits health misinformation that could pose significant harm and removes content violating its guidelines. Users are also cautioned against seeking medical advice on the platform, aiming to curb the spread of misleading health information.
The investigation shed light on the prevalence of unsupported health claims on TikTok, emphasizing the importance of verifying information and seeking advice from credible sources.
