More than half of the most popular TikToks about ADHD contain misinformation. Steph refuses to be part of the problem

When Steph Claire Smith was diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) last year, she knew she wanted to speak about it on social media.

She also knew she had to be careful.

The influencer and entrepreneur, known online as @stephclairesmith, grew up hearing harmful claims about ADHD and has seen misinformation about the disorder spread online as an adult.

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The last thing she wanted was to accidentally contribute to that misinformation.

Smith was right to be cautious, as new research published in the PLOS One journal found that more than half of the most popular TikTok videos about ADHD contain misinformation.

Researchers at the University of British Columbia, Canada analysed the 100 most popular TikTok videos with the #ADHD hashtag and found that fewer than half of the claims made about ADHD in the videos were in accord with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which is used for clinical diagnosis.

The study suggests that misinformation about ADHD symptoms is common on social media and that may be affecting users' perceptions of ADHD.

Have you got a story? Contact reporter Maddison Leach at mleach@nine.com.au

Professor David Coghill, President of Australasian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA), suspects many of the creators who contribute to the spread of misinformation about ADHD online don't do so maliciously.

Rather, he suspects that the oversimplification of ADHD symptoms can give viewers a false understanding of the disorder.

"What often happens on social media is that there people will give a list of symptoms or a list of examples and say, 'if you've got this, you've probably got ADHD,'" he told 9news.com.au.

"What often isn't clear is that these symptoms need to be persistent, and most importantly, that they need to be really interfering with day to day life in a significant way.

"Sometimes the misinformation really comes from not giving the complete picture."

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Smith agrees that it easy for ADHD to be "simplified into just a handful of surface-level traits" on TikTok and other social media platforms that thrive on quick, bite-sized content.

While that format has helped start important conversations about ADHD stigma and barriers to accessing assessments and treatment, it has plenty of pitfalls.

"Unfortunately, the algorithm tends to favour controversial conversations, so it can also be a little dangerous when used irresponsibly," she said.

Queensland-based psychologist Rebecca McWilliam agrees and pointed out that many of the content creators making videos about ADHD lack formal training in mental health.

"This leads to the share of inaccurate information," she told 9news.

"This is often due to a genuine misunderstanding of ADHD rather than intentional deceit, but can result in people misinterpreting everyday behaviours as symptoms of ADHD."

She identified common red flags of misinformation in ADHD content as: generalised or 'one size fits all' claims, self-diagnosis without professional guidance, demonising or romanticising ADHD, pseudoscientific 'cures' or treatments, and a lack of citations or professional sources.

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McWilliam and Coghill worry that ADHD misinformation spread online could increase the risk of people self-identifying with ADHD and seeking a diagnosis that may not be appropriate.

Coghill fears misdiagnosis could be especially common in cases where health professionals don't take enough time or care while providing ADHD assessments to those seeking them after identifying with ADHD symptoms as shared online.

"It's certainly not possible to diagnose ADHD in a 30 minute telehealth consult, but we do hear that there are people who are offering those kind of assessments," he said.

There's currently a shortage of trained clinicians in Australia who are able to provide good quality assessments, making it hard for individuals seeking assessments to access timely, affordable care.

AADPA has been working to address this shortage with federal and state governments.

With more than 140,000 TikTok followers and 1.5 million Instagram followers, Smith knew from the moment she received a formal ADHD diagnosis that she wanted to use her platform to boost awareness and education around the disorder.

She also know that she was not an expert.

"That's not my role. My role is to share my experience and to shine a light on the importance of professional advice," she said.

WATCH: Steph Claire Smith opens up about her ADHD diagnosis

Unlike content creators who rely solely on their lived experience to inform ADHD content, Smith started the 'It's My ADHD' mini-series on her KICPOD podcast to platform actual experts.

There she interviews them about ADHD to "cut through the noise" on social media with accurate, evidence-based information.

McWilliams believes social media can and should play a role in the conversation around ADHD but urges Australians to seek out content made or backed by experts rather than content creators who may be unknowingly spreading misinformation.

She also wants to see social media platforms including TikTok take a more hands-on approach to flagging or fact-check ADHD misinformation.

"The best approach is a balance, where ADHD awareness grows while still prioritising accuracy, ethics, and professional guidance."

Coghill encourages individuals to verify information they see online through legitimate channels like the AADPA website or by speaking to a health professional.

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