Representation and Quality of Acne-Related Content on Social Media
Main Article Content
Keywords
Acne, TikTok, Social Media
Abstract
Acne is a common dermatological condition affecting individuals of all races and ethnicities, with most cases occurring in teenagers and young adults. Patients in these age groups frequently turn to online platforms for guidance, relying on videos on social media platforms like TikTok. This study evaluated the top TikTok videos' content quality (DISCERN score) about perceived racial/ ethnic diversity. Findings demonstrate that videos showcasing the skin of individuals of color tend to have lower scientific content and potentially feature the application of agents that would promote dyspigmentation and scarring. There is a need to improve acne-related social media posts to provide higher-quality content targeted at patients of color, focusing on safer therapeutics.
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