Health information on TikTok: The good, the bad and the ugly [Video]

Newswise — In today’s digital age, social media platforms like TikTok have become integral parts of our lives, offering not just entertainment and catchy dances but also a wealth of information on topics ranging from home improvement to world news. According to some reports, many young people even prefer to use social media in place of traditional search engines like Google when looking for answers.

Health information is no exception. Hashtags like #celiactok, #diabetestok and #sinustok have millions of views, with each tag leading to countless videos about each health issue.

“Every type of ‘Tok’ exists – that’s just how the internet works,” said Rose Dimitroyannis, a third-year medical student at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. “Little tiny segments of the population find one another and make waves.”

It can be a great thing for people who share health concerns to find one another. Unfortunately, they — and anyone else …