Commentary: Beware Impact of TikTok's Algorithm on Dermatological Information Dissemination

A recent commentary in The Journal of Drugs in Dermatology exploring concerns about the dissemination of dermatological information on TikTok noted that even research on how the platform delivers information to consumers should be carefully studied.

As a social media platform with over 1.7 billion monthly active users, the authors said, research into TikTok as a platform necessitates that special attention be paid to the platform's content algorithm, which tailors video recommendations based on user interactions and device data. According to the authors, the algorithm poses challenges for the accurate collection and analysis of dermatology-related data, and that its unpredictability and personalized nature may lead to biased and non-reproducible results, complicating efforts to study the spread of medical information (including dermatological content).

The commentary noted that various studies have analyzed dermatology-related content on TikTok, but often do not account for the influence of the platform's algorithm. For instance, studies focusing on videos under specific hashtags or those deemed "top" by search terms do not consistently define how these videos are selected, leading to potential inconsistencies in data representation. Additionally, the algorithm's manipulation of user experiences, including the serving of videos based on prior engagement with similar content, may skew results towards particular types of content (such as misinformation).

The authors suggested that researchers must acknowledge the role of TikTok's algorithm in shaping data outcomes and called for caution in interpreting study results. 

"Even though it is important to perform studies evaluating TikTok and its effect on dermatology, investigators need to consider the algorithm when drawing conclusions," the authors wrote. "To date, very few studies have included that the algorithm played a part in their search and results. This is important because due to the personalized nature of the TikTok algorithm, another investigator using the same research method may reach a completely different outcome. These findings are not objective and may not even be representative. Additionally, due to the ever-changing nature of the algorithm, frequent updates, and constant new video uploads, data gathered on the app can quickly become outdated."

Source: Landriscina A, et al. The Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2024;23(8):7956.