A recent study found that sunscreen misinformation is going viral on TikTok, with many videos promoting false claims about the protective lotion. The study analyzed nearly 1,000 TikTok videos about sunscreen and found that while the majority promoted sunscreen use, the small fraction that critiqued or disparaged sunscreen generated more likes, shares, and comments.

Sunscreen Misinformation on the Rise

The study’s findings are concerning, as skin cancer rates are rising worldwide and sunscreen is among the most accessible and effective tools for prevention. However, public health organizations have raised concerns about a sunscreen misinformation trend on TikTok, which is one of the world’s most-used social media platforms — especially among young people.

The misinformation includes claims that sunscreen is toxic, cancer-causing, or unnecessarily blocks the health benefits of sun exposure. The study’s authors attributed the pattern to the “outsized viral potential” of contrarian and shock-provoking content.

Study author Alessandro Marcon said, “Sunscreen misinformation may attract disproportionate attention. Sunscreen misinformation on TikTok constitutes an area of concern not for the total sum of overarching influence in terms of content production but rather in how strongly some sunscreen misinformation ideas resonated among particular audiences.”

The study highlights the importance of accurate information about sunscreen and its benefits in preventing skin cancer. It also underscores the need for social media platforms to take responsibility for promoting trustworthy content and reducing the spread of misinformation.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.