Health

More than 50% of Gen Z uses TikTok for health advice, survey finds

By Mallika Marshall, MD

July 15, 2024 / 5:40 PM EDT / CBS Boston

More than half of Gen Z turns to TikTok for health and wellness advice, survey says

BOSTON - A new survey found that more than 50% of Gen Z are using TikTok for health advice.

In a new survey of 1,000 Gen Z users conducted by the personal trainer app Zing Coach, 56 percent said they go to TikTok for health and wellness advice, while 1 in 3 cited TikTok as their main source of health information.

While TikTok advice is readily available and free, it's often inaccurate and misguided. In fact, 1 in 11 of those surveyed said they'd experienced a negative health issue after following advice they found on TikTok.

More than half think TikTok creators should be held legally responsible for the accuracy of their health advice and 1 in 10 want health advice to be banned on TikTok.

Let this be a reminder, no matter your age, to turn to licensed health professionals before making any decisions about your health.

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Mallika Marshall, MD

Mallika Marshall, MD is an Emmy-award-winning journalist and physician who has served as the HealthWatch Reporter for CBS Boston/WBZ-TV for over 20 years. A practicing physician Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Marshall serves on staff at Harvard Medical School and practices at Massachusetts General Hospital at the MGH Chelsea Urgent Care and the MGH Revere Health Center, where she is currently working on the frontlines caring for patients with COVID-19. She is also a host and contributing editor for Harvard Health Publications (HHP), the publishing division of Harvard Medical School.

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