A Danish organization used two fake 13-year-old profiles to investigate what young people encounter when searching for terms like “ADHD,” “diagnosis,” and “autism” on TikTok and Instagram. The findings reveal that children and teenagers are frequently exposed to misleading and oversimplified content about mental health diagnoses, potentially causing both healthy and genuinely affected youth to misunderstand these conditions.
Misleading Symptoms Presented as Diagnostic Criteria
The investigation by Børns Vilkår uncovered numerous videos that present everyday behaviors as signs of ADHD or autism. On TikTok, one woman listed supposed ADHD symptoms including taking screenshots without looking at them again, forgetting to pay bills, leaving shopping bags at home, and buying notebooks that never get used. These are experiences most people can relate to, regardless of whether they have ADHD.
Similarly, an Instagram video featured a young woman claiming to have autism who listed loyalty as a friend, hatred of small talk, a strong sense of justice, and dislike of eye contact as indicators of being on the autism spectrum. These broad characteristics apply to many personality types and do not constitute diagnostic criteria.
Concerns About Self-Diagnosis Among Young Users
Julie Bek, a child psychologist at Børns Vilkår, expressed serious concerns about this type of content. The diagnostic criteria presented in these videos are so broad that almost everyone could identify with them on certain days. This creates a risk that healthy children and teenagers may believe they have psychiatric diagnoses they do not actually have.
When young people interpret normal feelings or experiences as symptoms of illness, it becomes harder for them to cope and work through challenges. Instead of developing healthy coping mechanisms, they may attribute their struggles to a mental health condition they don’t have.
What Real ADHD Warning Signs Look Like
According to Julie Bek, genuine ADHD symptoms differ significantly from what social media videos suggest. Real warning signs include struggling with daily tasks that peers handle easily, having difficulties that others around you notice, and experiencing problems that didn’t suddenly appear out of nowhere. These symptoms are persistent and impact functioning across multiple areas of life.
Risks for Both Healthy and Affected Youth
The abundance of diagnosis-related content poses dangers for two distinct groups. For healthy young people, it creates unnecessary anxiety and false beliefs about having mental health conditions. For those who genuinely struggle with ADHD or autism, the videos often fail to direct them toward proper help and support.
Instead, these videos can foster a sense of belonging to an exclusive club that nobody else understands. Young people receive constant validation for not talking to parents, teachers, or other adults about their challenges. This isolation prevents them from accessing the professional support they need.
The organization’s investigation revealed that the Børnetelefonen frequently hears from young people who suspect they have diagnoses after consuming social media content. Stories include a 15-year-old girl who believed she had ADHD after recognizing all the traits in an Instagram video and taking an unverified online test. Another 14-year-old became convinced she had autism based on psychologists she followed on TikTok.
Algorithm Amplifies Exposure to Diagnostic Content
Once a young person searches for terms like “autism” or “ADHD” on these platforms, the recommendation algorithms ensure they see more related content. This happens even when they’re not actively searching for it. The constant stream of diagnostic content reinforces beliefs and prevents young users from getting balanced information.
Børns Vilkår created two gender-neutral 13-year-old profiles and searched for “diagnosis,” “ADHD,” and “autism” to document what appears in feeds. The results showed an overwhelming amount of content that oversimplifies complex mental health conditions.
Expert Criticism of Social Media Diagnostic Content
Julie Nordgaard, a professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of Copenhagen and senior consultant in Roskilde’s psychiatric department, reviewed the videos found by Børns Vilkår. Her assessment was clear. The videos are superficial and do not provide an accurate picture of ADHD or autism.
While some aspects mentioned in the videos might be compatible with these diagnoses in a clinical context, they are nonspecific and could just as easily represent ordinary human experiences. On the other hand, some videos romanticize these conditions by presenting ADHD and autism as special strengths or superpowers. This obscures the reality that these are serious disorders that cause significant difficulties and suffering for many people.
These conditions cannot simply be chosen or used positively whenever convenient. The romanticization trend potentially discourages people from seeking proper evaluation and treatment when they genuinely need it.
Platform Response to Criticism
DR Nyheder requested comments from both TikTok and Meta, which owns Instagram, regarding the criticism of diagnostic content on their platforms. Meta did not respond to the inquiry. TikTok referred to the platform’s general guidelines, which state that they take action against health-related misinformation.
Meanwhile, the impact on young Danish users continues. With nine out of ten Danes using social media as of 2024, and Instagram holding accounts for 40 percent of the population, the reach of this problematic content is substantial. Four out of five Danes aged 16 to 74 use Instagram or similar services regularly.
The investigation highlights growing concerns about how social media platforms shape young people’s understanding of mental health. Without proper context or guidance toward professional resources, these videos risk creating a generation that either unnecessarily pathologizes normal behavior or trivializes serious mental health conditions that require proper diagnosis and treatment.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: Ten-year plan aims to transform Danish mental health care
The Danish Dream: Mental health in Denmark for foreigners
