"those sources can be highly unreliable"
The NHS has launched its first TikTok channel as young people increasingly turn to social media influencers rather than traditional sources for health advice.
The move comes after Professor Frankie Swords, the health service’s new national medical director, warned that misinformation had become “a real threat to public health”.
It aims to provide evidence-based medical advice on social media platforms where many people now search for information about symptoms, treatments and wellbeing.
Professor Swords said: “There’s a lot of misinformation out there, and I worry that this is becoming a real threat to public health. People are more and more vulnerable to dangerous advice.
“Across the NHS we’re already seeing the impact of it, with people convinced that they have a specific condition, not wanting to use proven medical options or opting for unconventional or completely unproven miracle cures.
“There’s a lot of people more interested in their health, which is great.
“But sometimes they’re getting their health information from places where the NHS and other trusted sources don’t usually provide it, and those sources can be highly unreliable, with unqualified people purporting to offer proven health advice.
“We can’t stop that, so we’ve got to get in there to combat it.”
The launch follows growing concern about the spread of health misinformation online, where videos promoting miracle cures and unsupported medical claims can attract millions of views.
Among the claims circulating on TikTok are suggestions that “natural medicine actually prevents and stops illnesses, unlike most pharmaceuticals”, alongside posts promoting unverified treatments or discouraging conventional medical care.
Professor Swords said she had recently recorded her first TikTok video explaining the rollout of MenB vaccinations for students.
The NHS TikTok account has already started publishing videos on topics including sore throats, vaccinations and seasonal health advice, alongside lighter content linked to events such as Wimbledon.
The move comes after research from Healthwatch England found that one in five people now use social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram and YouTube for information about staying healthy.
William Pett, the acting director of policy and public affairs at Healthwatch England, said:
“Our research has found that one in five people are now using social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube for information on staying healthy.
“Just under one in 10 say they use AI tools, such as ChatGPT, for the same purpose.
“Both figures are only likely to rise over the coming years.”
“We have argued that this shift in how people find information about their health, with the risks it poses around misinformation, should be a wake-up call.
“We welcome that the NHS is following our recommendation to meet people where they are, with the launch of a dedicated NHS TikTok channel.
“By developing a stronger and more relatable presence on social media, the NHS can make sure accurate, evidence-based advice appears in the same feeds where misinformation spreads.”
The NHS said the new channel reflects the changing ways people access health information and aims to ensure reliable medical advice reaches audiences where they are already searching for answers.
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