Most of Gen Z using TikTok for health advice: Survey

Most of Gen Z is turning to TikTok to seek health advice, citing quick responses and free advice, a recent survey found.

The poll, conducted by Zing Coach, found 56 percent of Gen Z use TikTok for wellness, diet and fitness advice and that a large share of them use the platform as their main form of health advice. Thirty-four percent said they use TikTok to get most of their health advice, making it more than twice as popular as the other options listed.

Fourteen percent said they got their advice from friends, 13 percent said Google and 11 percent said qualified doctors or trainers.

When asked why Gen Z is getting their advice from the popular video-sharing platform, 40 percent said it was because it did not cost anything. Another 22 percent said it was because it was fast, and 5 percent said it was because TikTok won’t try to sell them anything.

TikTok has been under scrutiny for months as President Biden signed a bill that could potentially ban the platform in the United States. TikTok has since sued the administration over the bill, saying the law violated the First Amendment.

The poll also found that 66 percent of Gen Z trust TikTok videos about their health if they come from a doctor, nutritionist or an athlete. Its results also suggested that Gen Z users who turn to TikTok for health advice may be prone to misinformation because one in three say they do not double check the advice they get from the app.

Three in five also said they’ve seen misinformation about health or harmful advice on TikTok. About 1 in 11 said they had health issues after following the advice from a a TikTok video.

One in 10 said that health advice should be banned from the app, while 63 percent said TikTok creators should be held legally accountable for the accuracy of their health advice.

The poll was conducted among 1,000 people aged 18 to 27. It was published on May 31.

The Hill has reached out to TikTok for comment.