Not Just for Dancing? A Content Analysis of Concussion and Head Injury Videos on TikTok

Social media platforms are an accessible and increasingly used way for the public to gather healthcare-related information, including on sports injuries. TikTok is currently one of the fastest-growing social media platforms worldwide, and it is especially popular amongst adolescents and young adults. The widespread use and popularity of TikTok suggests that this platform has potential to be a source for healthcare information for younger individuals. The aim of this study was to gain a preliminary understanding of the concussion/head injury-related information on TikTok, and to gauge if TikTok could serve as a platform for concussion education. This exploratory study used a systematic search strategy to understand more about how concussion is being portrayed through TikTok videos. Using the keywords concussion and head injury, 200 videos were downloaded from TikTok and 43 videos were excluded. Of the 92 videos retrieved using the keyword concussion, 95% (n = 88) had more than 100,000 views and 6% (n = 10) had been viewed more than 10 million times. Over half, 54% (n = 50) of the concussion videos depicted individuals playing around and getting hit in the head, whilst only 1% (n = 1) of the TikTok videos were categorized as explaining concussion facts. The large numbers of views of concussion-related TikTok videos demonstrates the popularity of this platform and indicates that healthcare organizations should consider TikTok as a potential means for concussion education amongst younger individuals.

Automated summary

This study explored concussion/head injury-related information on TikTok and found that most videos depicted individuals getting injured while playing, with very few videos explaining concussion facts. The high number of views on concussion-related videos on TikTok indicates the platform's popularity among younger individuals and its potential for educational purposes.