Will the TikTok ban be a win for public health or a loss for patients? Docs online weigh in

By MDLinx staff
Published January 17, 2025

Key Takeaways

Industry Buzz

  • "Our healthcare system is already failing the American people, it’s not hard to see that… The fact that Americans have such poor access to healthcare is the reason why I’m on TikTok. […] So many Americans don’t have access to appropriate healthcare—this is not an opinion, this is fact." — Doctor on TikTok @tiktoknightdoc

  • “I often times will do some silly things like hula hooping at the same time while giving you medical information, and I feel like that’s the secret sauce of TikTok—you can present things in unique ways and get people’s attention, and people can learn from that.” — Doctor on TikTok @rubin_allergy

  • "There are so many good things happening here that people like myself, who provide healthcare information to those who might not have access…. It would be a shame to lose this platform for those who are on here for the right reasons." — Doctor on TikTok @askdrmom

Find more of your peers' perspectives and insights below.

The proposed TikTok ban, which the US government says is due to data privacy concerns, has sparked significant debate in the past couple weeks, particularly among healthcare professionals who use the platform to educate and engage with the public. For doctors, the ban—which will be instated on Sunday, January 19—could have both positive and negative consequences.

@rubin_allergy Where else can you find a hula hooping doctor? The flow of information on this app is unique #savetiktok #tiktokban #tiktokdoc #learnontiktok ♬ original sound - Dr. Rubin, MD

Cutting down on conspiracies?

Eliminating TikTok could reduce the spread of medical misinformation that often thrives on the platform. Harmful health trends, conspiracy theories, and unverified treatments frequently go viral, confusing patients and sometimes leading to dangerous outcomes.

A ban could push users to seek information from more reliable sources, reducing the burden on doctors to counteract false narratives during appointments.

...or further prevent access to healthcare?

However, the ban could also negatively impact doctors who use TikTok effectively to share accurate health information. Many physicians rely on the platform to reach younger audiences, simplify complex medical topics, and dispel myths. 

@askdrmom Oh I hope this doesnt happen for so many reasons #tiktokban #savetiktokusa #breakingnews #fyp ♬ original sound - AskDrMom Dr Jessica Kiss

For some, TikTok has been a valuable tool for public health campaigns and patient education, amplifying their voices far beyond the confines of their clinics and making medical information available to so many Americans who have inadequate access to healthcare.

What docs are saying

In an opinion piece for the San Francisco Chronicle—penned last spring, when Congress passed initial legislation that could have led to a TikTok ban—physician and TikTok user Jason Bae, MD, expressed ambivalence at the upcoming ban: “[D]espite the substantial value TikTok brings me as a creator and user, I have reservations about the app’s place in our society and my life,” noting the prevalence of political and medical misinformation on the app, the mental health effects of “doom-scrolling,” and other factors.[]

However, Dr. Bae notes, regardless of his personal opinion, “TikTok is where people, especially the young, consume content and search for information.” He points out that TikTok is just one app of many. Instead, he says, “we need a federal approach to curbing misinformation and negative mental health impacts on all social media platforms.”

Most other responses from doctors-turned-TikTok creators are far from ambivalent—instead they are upset about what the ban could mean for their patients. 

@tiktoknightdoc It takes a lot to make me as emotional as I have been about this topic. It’s an infringement on our country’s right to information, and when you harm my patients, I take that very personally. You can try all you want, but you will not stop the group of healthcare providers on social media who have dedicated ourselves to bettering the system for our patients. We will rally. The only thing you’re accomplishing is to lose our support. I hope this is worth it for you. #erdoc #emergencyroom #medicaltiktok #hospitaltiktoks #nursesoftiktok #ernurse #doctorsoftiktok #tiktokban #chronicillness #congress @Ed @Rep. Ro Khanna ♬ original sound - Doctor Oh

While some physicians hope the TikTok ban could cut down on the medical misinformation running rampant online, the truth is that many patients are likely to continue scrolling social media—just somewhere else. Something that should be especially concerning for docs, given Meta’s recent announcement it is abandoning its fact-checking policy.

Related: Social media giant says it will end fact-checking—and the impact to physicians may be dire
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What’s your opinion on the upcoming TikTok ban?

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