How TikTok and Social Media Are Changing the Way People Understand ADHD

Millions of people search for health information online every day. Google processes hundreds of millions of health-related search queries, while podcasts, social media platforms and online influencers increasingly shape how people understand medical and mental health conditions.

In her book, “Bad Influence: How the Internet Hijacked Our Health” (Oneworld Publications, 2026), author and journalist Dr. Deborah Cohen examines the effect that social media, online influencers, health trends and algorithms can have on public health. She explores how digital platforms may amplify anxieties, encourage self-diagnosis and push people away from traditional healthcare services.

Why ADHD content has become so popular on TikTok

In this excerpt, Cohen examines the way attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is portrayed on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Viral videos often present “little-known symptoms” as entertaining or relatable content, but the clinical reality of ADHD is considerably more complex.

“Bad Influence” has been selected as a finalist for the 2026 Royal Society Trivedi Scientific Book Award.

ADHD symptoms can overlap with other conditions

Many ADHD symptoms are also common among people who do not have the condition. Establishing how frequently symptoms occur, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), requires careful clinical judgment.

Symptoms associated with ADHD may also overlap with anxiety, depression, sleep problems and learning disabilities. Before making a diagnosis or recommending medication, a qualified clinician must consider the full picture and rule out alternative explanations.

What viral ADHD videos get wrong

Online, this nuance can quickly disappear. TikTok and Instagram videos often list “common ADHD symptoms” and describe how they can affect everyday life. British DJ and radio presenter Megan McHugh, for example, attracted significant attention after sharing a video titled “6 ADHD behavioral traits you may not know.”

The video described experiences such as difficulty saying no, poor long-term memory and subconscious movements as possible signs of ADHD. Other creators have identified struggling to get out of bed, difficulty choosing food at a restaurant, missing deadlines and failing to finish a book as potential symptoms.

Sharing personal experiences can help people feel less isolated. However, these experiences alone cannot establish an ADHD diagnosis. A symptom must be persistent, impair daily functioning and be assessed in the context of a person’s history and circumstances.

Research by Vasileia Karasavva and researchers from the University of British Columbia and their colleagues has raised concerns about how ADHD symptoms are represented online. When they examined the 100 most popular ADHD videos on TikTok on January 10, 2023, clinical psychologists found that only 48.7% of the claims accurately reflected DSM-5 symptoms.

Among the inaccurate claims, almost 70% described experiences that many people without ADHD may have. Around half referred to symptoms that could be associated with several different conditions, while nearly one-fifth matched symptoms of other disorders.

Some videos presented behaviors such as bumping into furniture, replaying the same song repeatedly or craving sweets as signs of ADHD. Most offered little context. Only 4% acknowledged that the claims might not apply to everyone, and fewer than 2% noted that these experiences can occur in people without ADHD.

Among creators who disclosed their credentials, 84% referred to lived experience and 13% described themselves as life coaches. None of the most popular videos in the study came from clinical psychologists or psychiatrists.

Why people may trust relatable ADHD content

The researchers showed the videos to 843 psychology students. Scientifically inaccurate videos were generally rated more favorably than content approved by experts. Students who self-identified as having ADHD rated all the videos most highly, including videos that experts considered inaccurate.

The findings suggest that viewers may prioritize whether online content feels personally relevant over whether it is clinically accurate. For people who have struggled to obtain support, a short video that appears to explain their experiences can feel validating and reassuring.

Alyssa Brown described finding an ADHD community online after feeling that her concerns had been overlooked by conventional healthcare. “I always thought everyone experienced the world the same way I did. It was eye-opening to find out that wasn’t true,” she said. “It’s so reassuring to connect with people who share similar experiences.”

Some of Brown’s favorite accounts feature humorous conversations between couples with ADHD. She and her fiancé connect through the videos, while some creators sell merchandise with slogans such as “What if you’re not a lazy, useless loser?” and “Caution: Hyperfocus.” The humor can make people feel understood, but it may also reduce a complex medical condition to a collection of entertaining personality traits.

Can calling ADHD a “superpower” cause harm?

Mental health professionals remain divided over the rise of viral ADHD content. Some welcome its potential to reduce stigma and encourage people to seek help. Others worry that highly simplified videos trivialize ADHD and blur the boundaries between ordinary difficulties, mental health symptoms and a clinical diagnosis.

Public figures have also influenced the way ADHD is perceived. Simone Biles, one of the most decorated gymnasts in history, publicly discussed her ADHD diagnosis on X in 2016. “There’s nothing shameful about having ADHD and taking medication for it,” the American athlete said.

British singer Jessie J also discussed her ADHD diagnosis in a July 2024 Instagram post, describing it as both “empowering” and “overwhelming.” Like other public figures, she referred to ADHD as a potential “superpower” when a person receives the right support.

Researchers Lucy Foulkes of the University of Oxford and Jack Andrews have cautioned that public disclosures, despite their positive intentions, may unintentionally make certain diagnoses appear desirable or socially prestigious.

That can lead to the glamorization of ADHD, a focus on high-profile experiences and less attention to people whose symptoms are severe or whose circumstances make diagnosis and treatment more difficult.

The real-world impact of untreated ADHD

This concern is shared by Susan Young, a clinical psychologist who established the first national adult ADHD service at London’s Maudsley Hospital in 1994 and co-authored the 2008 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.

Young has criticized the entertainment-focused tone of some ADHD content online. “If you look at TikTok in particular, it’s all entertainment,” she said. “It makes me uncomfortable that there are conditions where people can have a really hard time with it being used for entertainment purposes.”

Her work with people in the criminal justice system highlights how different the reality of ADHD can be from its social media portrayal. Research has found that ADHD is more common in prison populations than in the general population. People with untreated ADHD in these settings may face increased risks of violence, self-harm, substance use disorders and difficulties with rehabilitation.

In these circumstances, ADHD may remain underdiagnosed, access to treatment may be limited and rehabilitation can become more difficult. “People say, ‘ADHD is my superpower! I love being ADHD! I’m goofy and fun,’ which can make the condition worse,” Young said.

Research also suggests that children from lower-income backgrounds may be more likely to meet the criteria for ADHD but less likely to receive appropriate treatment. These inequalities show why the condition should not be reduced to a social media trend or a collection of amusing personality quirks.

Why social media awareness needs clinical context

People can certainly develop strengths while adapting to the challenges associated with ADHD. However, describing ADHD as inherently beneficial can overlook the impairment required for a clinical diagnosis. Awareness campaigns must balance reducing stigma with explaining the seriousness of the condition.

Social media can help people recognize that they are not alone and may encourage them to seek professional advice. But viral videos should not be used to self-diagnose ADHD. Anyone concerned about persistent attention, impulsivity or hyperactivity symptoms should speak with a qualified healthcare professional who can assess their history, daily functioning and possible alternative explanations.

Excerpted from “Bad Influence: How the Internet Hijacked Our Health,” Oneworld Publications, 2026.