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Imagine the following scenario. You’re lying in bed, phone in hand, scrolling through TikTok. A video pops up on your For You feed: “5 signs you have ADHD.” Another video claims trauma rewires your brain in ways therapists won’t tell you about. It feels relatable, perhaps even reassuring – but is it accurate, and can it be trusted?
Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube have become a major source of mental health information, particularly for young people. They offer quick answers, shared experiences, and validation (Loades et al., 2025). But as previous Mental Elf blogs have highlighted, the same platforms can also amplify distress and spread false or misleading…