Distrust by default: analysis of parent and child reactions to health misinformation exposure on TikTok

Social networks have become a recurrent source of health information, but they also represent a space for the dissemination of erroneous or false information, which becomes more worrying when dealing with underage audiences. The aim of this study was to find out what resources and capabilities adolescents have to deal with the erroneous health content they receive through TikTok. To provide a comprehensive perspective, one of the parents of each sampled child was also interviewed with the aim of discovering their assessment of how their children dealt with this content. 40 interviews were carried out, and among the main findings, a common practice of distrust by default of the contents consumed on the Internet stood out, both in adults and in minors. While the latter always sought in the content an occasion to entertain themselves, parents doubted that their children were capable of recognizing erroneous information.

Automated summary

Social networks are a common source of health information, but they can also disseminate false information, especially to underage audiences. This study aimed to explore the resources and capabilities adolescents have to deal with erroneous health content on TikTok. Interviews with 40 participants were conducted, including parents, revealing a common practice of distrusting online content among both adults and minors. While adolescents sought entertainment in the content, parents doubted their ability to recognize false information.