My TikTok algorithm knows me too well, which is why first thing this morning, it suggested I watch a video about “5 steps for instant anxiety relief.” That mirrors a larger trend: More psychologists are stepping into the role of mental-health influencer, posting regularly on attachment styles, unresolved trauma, and whatever else happens to be trending.
There are certainly benefits, like heightened awareness and reduced stigma around mental health. But it can be difficult to suss out which so-called experts are credible and whether their information is trustworthy.
With that in mind, I asked a handful of psychologists to share the red flags consumers should watch for when scrolling through mental-health content on TikTok or Instagram. Here are a few that especially resonated for me:
- Posts are jargon-heavy. Therapy speak—about "boundaries," "inner-child work," or "attachment styles," for example—is tossed around frequently and casually. Trust-worthy practitioners “typically aren’t using therapy terms and therapy jargon, because they want to make therapy and mental health more approachable and digestible,” one expert told me.
- The person running the account is trying to sell you something. If a practitioner’s content all leads back to their storefront, they’re probably more concerned with making you their customer than providing quality education.
- Posts promote self-diagnosis or labels. At least once a day, I see a post with a grabby caption like “5 signs you’re depressed” or “how to tell if your partner is a narcissist.” Resist the urge to label yourself or anyone else, and instead talk to your doctor about it. Actual diagnoses are far more complex than reels allow.
