TikTok: A Vector for Dangerous Misinformation

 In The Politics of Autism, I examine the role of social media in the development of the issue. 

Dexter McMillan at CBC Marketplace:

Marketplace journalists analyzed 100 videos discussing cancer treatments and another 100 for autism therapies. We found that at least 80 per cent of the remedies in the videos — totalling more than 75 million views — weren’t supported by scientific evidence.
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Marketplace searched TikTok for cancer videos using the search terms "cancer cure" and "cancer treatment," and for autism videos using the terms "autism cure," "autism treatment" and "autism." Starting with the most viewed, we chose 100 each that featured a treatment or cure.
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Marketplace journalists also found treatments our experts identified as dangerous among the 100 videos on autism.

One video with 760,000 views claimed that chelation therapy — typically used to treat heavy metal poisoning — can improve communication and behaviour in children with autism.

The medical procedure involves using an IV to administer chemicals that bind heavy metals in the body and eliminate them. The video claimed that removing these heavy metals improves autism symptoms.

In addition to this claim being unsupported by science, the treatment can be dangerous, said Dr. Melanie Penner, a pediatrician and autism researcher in Toronto.

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Stem cell therapies for autism were featured in at least 14 videos reviewed by Marketplace, racking up 3.2 million views altogether. It involves infusing stem cells into the body using an IV.
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Penner said the research doesn't support that. Meanwhile, these treatments can have serious complications.