Misinformation: How Social Media Shapes Youth Mental Health Understanding
July 03, 2025
A lot of young people are on social media, with a reported 96% of 13-17 year olds using social media apps. Mental health content is becoming increasingly popular on social media sites, so it is important to be able to recognise what is real and what isn’t.
Social media has the power to raise awareness and create communities of support, but it can also spread misinformation. For example, some posts label all emotions as mental health disorders or promote false claims. This can be incredibly confusing and harmful to how young people understand mental health.
What Is Misinformation and How Does It Spread?
Misinformation can be defined as “false or inaccurate information”. It can be shared deliberately or accidentally.
Mental health misinformation can commonly appear as myths, oversimplified descriptions, biased advice, or personal opinions presented as facts. For example, mental health misinformation posts might look like a viral video claiming everyone with anxiety avoids social situations. Or a post suggesting that certain behaviours are always signs of a specific diagnosis.
Some posts can also glamorise or romanticise mental health conditions. This may make it harder for young people to recognise unhealthy behaviours or when they should seek support, believing that it is something everyone experiences.
Mental health misinformation can spread quickly, especially when posts can be shared on a story within seconds or instantly sent to friends. Additionally, as many posts are made to be entertaining or emotionally powerful, they are often shared without much fact-checking. Algorithms can also boost this kind of content, especially if it gets lots of likes, comments, or shares.
When this happens, it is important to take a moment to consider the information presented to you. Look at who is delivering the information, and consider whether the information might be inaccurate or biased.
The Impact Of Misinformation About Mental Health On Social Media
Mental health misinformation on social media can have a lot of negative impacts. While some content may appear helpful on the surface, it can actually cause harm in many ways. For example, mental health information may:
Prevent People From Seeking Support
When unhealthy behaviours are romanticised, people may not realise that they are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition. If it is portrayed as something everyone goes through, young people might dismiss their own need for support.
This can be detrimental to a person’s mental health as it can lead to delays in seeking support, which can make things worse over time. The longer someone waits to get help, the harder it can become to manage mental health and can negatively impact their self-esteem.
Increase Stigma
Viral posts presenting an inaccurate portrayal of mental health conditions, such as oversimplifying, can reinforce harmful stereotypes and create stigma. This can make young people feel ashamed, which can make them hesitant to seek support. And when mental health is treated like a joke or a trend, it can make people feel isolated or invalidated.
Encourage Harmful Behaviours
Some social media content can promote dangerous and unhealthy coping strategies. These posts can often be disguised as advice, but they can be harmful, especially to someone who is vulnerable or already struggling.
Without realising the risks, people might try this behaviour, believing they are helpful. In reality, they can lead to serious physical and emotional consequences.
How To Identify Misinformation
With so much mental health content on social media, it can be hard to know what’s accurate and what’s not. However, it is incredibly important that we are able to identify inaccurate information online. By developing a critical eye, you will develop a stronger ability to spot misinformation. This can protect your mental health and ensure your decisions are based on facts. Here are a few key ways to identify whether the information is reliable or not:
Check The Source
Has the post been created by a trusted organisation such as the NHS or a qualified professional?
If it isn’t by a trusted organisation, has the creator linked reliable sources to support what they are saying?
Are you able to access the sources provided? If so, are they from credible sources such as peer-reviewed journals or official health websites?
Consider The Intent Behind The Post
What is the purpose of the post? Are they trying to inform or raise awareness? Or are they trying to sell something or advertise a product?
If a study is included, is it accurately reported, or has it been taken out of context to fit a specific message?
Watch Out For Oversimplifications
Does the content make sweeping statements or promise a quick fix? Mental health is complex, and one person’s experience does not apply to everyone, so be sure to consider what is being said.
Building Healthy Online Habits As A Young Person And Protecting Yourself From Misinformation
With social media being such a huge part of many young people’s lives, it is important that we focus on building healthy online habits. It is important that these habits are developed and kept on top of to remain safe online and be able to recognise misinformation. Some tips for building healthy online habits and avoiding listening to misinformation are:
Pause Before You Share
If you see something online that reports something that appears shocking or too good to be true, take a moment to pause before liking or reposting. Ask yourself:
- Is this based on evidence?
- Could this harm someone if it is inaccurate?
Apply Critical Thinking
Not everything you read online is true. Unfortunately, it can be easy for someone to write inaccurate information online and share it with thousands of people. Here are some questions you can ask yourself when critically reading information online:
- Does this sound real, or does it sound too good to be true? It doesn’t always mean it is fake, but if you get a gut feeling that something doesn’t sound right, it’s definitely best to check it out.
- Is there any research or expert consensus to support the information being presented to me?
- Who wrote the piece, and what are their intentions?
Talk To People You Trust
If there is information you are unsure of, talk to people about it, such as a trusted adult, friend, or mentor. They may be able to offer you a perspective you hadn’t thought of yet, or may know more about that topic and find it easier to identify misinformation.
Set Healthy Boundaries
Your feed should prioritise your mental well-being. Mute or unfollow accounts that make you feel confused, overwhelmed, or self-critical.
Follow Positive Role Models
It’s okay to follow influencers or join online communities, but it is important to only follow those who have a positive impact on you and can build a great community. It is important to follow accredited professionals and mental health advocates for mental health information. This will limit the amount of misinformation on your social media pages. This does not get rid of it entirely, so still keep using the critical thinking skills we have discussed!
A balanced feed with trustworthy content from professionals that includes research-based information will mean you see more trustworthy and factual information. This can make it easier to spot the red flags in misleading posts.
Supporting Healthy Online Habits As A Caregiver
As a caregiver, you play a vital role in helping young people build safe and healthy habits online. It is incredibly important to support the development of healthy online habits and navigate misinformation about mental health on social media. Here are some practical ways you can support healthy online habits as a caregiver:
Start Early: Teach Online Safety From The Beginning
Before a young person begins accessing social media, it is important that they understand the potential risks. Discuss the kinds of information they might encounter and explain that they shouldn’t trust everything they see online.
Start these conversations early, such as when they are given their first device, like a phone or a laptop. By providing them with this information, you are providing them with the tools they need to critically read information online. This will support them in becoming more confident users of social media.
You can’t prepare for every situation, and this is okay. By building this knowledge early, you are helping them make safer and better-informed decisions on their own.
Keep The Lines of Communication Open
Mental health is an incredibly important topic. It is important that, as a caregiver, the young people in your life feel comfortable coming to you with questions or concerns. If they can go to you for support, they may be less likely to rely on social media for mental health information. You can also support them in researching and finding accurate, trustworthy information.
Research has found that 42% of young people have lied about what they do online to their caregivers. This highlights how important it is to create an open, non-judgmental space where they can share without fear. If you keep the lines of communication open, they will feel more comfortable talking to you, are less likely to hide what they are doing online, and are more likely to seek help from you when they need it.
Encourage Healthy Digital Boundaries
When first introducing social media, it is important to support them in setting boundaries and encourage them to continue this as they develop independence in using social media. Examples of things to include to encourage healthy digital boundaries include:
- Limiting screen time and taking regular breaks from scrolling
- Seek information from multiple trusted sources rather than trusting the first thing read on social media
- Only following people on social media who are trusted and create a positive environment
The internet and social media can be incredibly positive spaces. They can create communities, offer support, and provide useful information about mental health. Despite these positives, there is also the risk of misinformation. Some people will post inaccurate information on their social media pages, and others may share this content without realising it isn’t true. This can quickly lead to the spread of misinformation.
Therefore, it is crucial that we read social media posts critically and check the information before believing it to be true.
By remaining cautious online, you can protect your mental health, support your mental health understanding, and decrease the risk of being misled by inaccurate information.