TikTok creators want you to get medical tests you don’t need. Here’s why you should think twice

A study in JAMA Network Open reveals social media's role in promoting excessive medical testing. The study analyzed Instagram and TikTok posts about five overused tests. These tests included full-body MRIs, early cancer detection, egg reserve tests, gut microbiome tests, and low-testosterone blood tests. Eighty-seven percent of posts highlighted benefits, while only 15% mentioned potential harms. A promotional tone was prevalent in 84% of the posts. Sixty-eight percent of posters had a financial stake in the promoted tests. The majority of posts encouraged testing without sufficient evidence or mention of potential negative consequences. Personal anecdotes were used more frequently than scientific evidence. This misinformation has the potential to mislead the public into unnecessary testing.