Misinformation has existed within society for centuries, but it appears to have become increasingly widespread since the emergence of social media networks.

A recent study presented at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2023 found that 40% of TikTok posts related to liver disease contain misinformation, primarily promoting false claims about fad diets, “detox” drinks, and herbal remedies.

The findings indicate that individuals with liver disease who turn to TikTok for medical information may require assistance in distinguishing accurate and trustworthy information from misleading or harmful content.

“People should always consult their doctor first for guidance on their specific medical condition, but we also know that getting health information and tips from social media is extremely common these days,” remarks lead author Macklin Loveland. “When the average person sees a post about liver disease on social media, they may have no idea that the claims are entirely inaccurate.”

During the study, Dr. Loveland searched TikTok for posts containing the keywords “cirrhosis” and “liver disease” between October 1 and November 25, 2022. Out of the 2,223 posts identified, he compared them against established practice guidelines from the American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, and American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. He found that nearly 40%, or 883 posts, contained misinformation. Among the most common inaccuracies were posts claiming that herbal products could reverse liver disease or that consuming certain foods or doing a parasite cleanse would heal the liver, which are all false.

Liver disease is becoming increasingly prevalent in the U.S., with 4.5 million adults already diagnosed and over 85 million estimated to have liver disease but are unaware of it. The treatment for liver disease varies based on the diagnosis, with some conditions being treated with lifestyle modifications like quitting alcohol or losing weight while others require medication or surgery. Close monitoring of liver function is also necessary as part of a medical program.

According to the study, inaccurate social media posts had significantly less engagement than accurate ones. Misleading posts received an average of 1,671 “likes” and 140 “shares,” while accurate posts received an average of 14,463 “likes” and 364 “shares.” Interestingly, posts that only contained informational content had a higher prevalence of misinformation compared to those featuring personal experiences from patients.

“Even though inaccurate posts were less popular, they still represent a high volume of misinformation on the platform, leaving people with liver disease susceptible to false claims,” Dr. Loveland adds. “Given the high mortality associated with liver disease, the impact of spreading inaccurate claims on such a popular social media platform could have serious clinical ramifications.”

According to Loveland, the results of his study support the need for improved monitoring and regulation of the platform, as well as increased involvement from medical professionals.

“It’s clear that more needs to be done to flag misinformation on TikTok, including doctors becoming more heavily represented on the platform to combat misinformation with accurate, science-based information,” Dr. Loveland adds. “In general, TikTok and social media platforms are great sources to disseminate health information. However, we need to put more guardrails in place against false or misleading claims.”

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