Australian researchers say popular, yet misleading, advice risks unplanned pregnancies in young people.
Dodgy contraceptive methods and medical scepticism were alarmingly prevalent in a study of TikTok videos that have been viewed almost five billion times and liked 14.6 million times.
Given the importance these platforms have in guiding the behaviour of young people and informing their beliefs, La Trobe University researchers say their findings suggest viewers are increasingly at risk of unplanned pregnancies.
The researchers studied 100 videos with the most popular hashtags associated with contraception, which included #birthcontrol, #contraception, #thepill, #naturalbirthcontrol and #cycletracking.
Just one in 10 were created by medical professionals, and the rest often featured misinformation.
For example, more than half of the content creators rejected hormonal birth control, and around one in three showed distrust of medical professionals. Meanwhile, fertility awareness and cycle tracking were included in around one in three videos.
Lead researcher Dr Caroline de Moel-Mandel, a GP in La Trobe University’s School of Psychology and Public Health, raised concerns about the poor quality of the information in these videos.
“Many TikTok creators promoted natural contraceptive methods like fertility tracking without disclosing their limitations, which include accurately tracking hormone fluctuations, motivation and partner cooperation,” Dr Moel-Mandel told media.
“Importantly, they failed to mention that these methods are generally ineffective when used on their own. This kind of misinformation, combined with a growing distrust in healthcare professionals can result in unsafe decisions and ultimately, unplanned pregnancies.”
The researchers noted that algorithms prioritise negative health experiences as these videos get more engagement from audiences.
“This has resulted in an abundance of inaccurate and misleading health information on social media, potentially influencing young people’s knowledge and beliefs about contraception-related issues,” Dr Moel-Mandel and colleagues wrote in Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health.
Previous research has shown a desire to be “more natural” or “hormone free” were some of the top reasons influencers had stopped taking their hormonal contraception, and Dr Moel-Mandel and colleagues suggested some of the trend against these contraceptives may come from women pushing back on the unfair burden they carry in reproductive management.
The researchers suggested some of the distrust of medical professionals may be due to their focus on safety and effectiveness, rather than potential side effects.
“Social media is reshaping health care providers’ relationships with patients,” said co-author Megan Bugden, lecturer in public health at the university.
“We encourage health professionals to rebuild trust through shared decision-making on contraceptive options, which may increase patient satisfaction and mitigate unreliable information posted online.”
Ms Budgen called on public health organisations to collaborate with influencers to spread more fact-based information.
“Young people deserve accurate information to make informed contraceptive health decisions, regardless of background or resources,” she said.
Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 30 June 2025
