“Don’t trust everything you see on the internet.” We’ve all heard it before, but the saying has never been more relevant than it is today—and an October 2024 study from the journal Australasian Psychiatry confirms this.
According to the researchers, there is a shocking discrepancy between the validity and popularity of ADHD-related TikToks. That is, many TikToks—and hugely popular ones, at that—which purport to be useful in understanding or even diagnosing ADHD contained highly misleading information.
Here’s how the researchers discovered this, and why this trend is so dangerous.
Why ‘#adhdhtest’ Is Trending On TikTok
There’s no denying the many merits that TikTok has. Beyond its entertainment value, this short-form video platform has turned otherwise inaccessible information into content that is both accessible and engaging—particularly in terms of mental health awareness and research. However, unlike scientific journals and articles, TikToks—and TikTokers themselves—aren’t vetted for credibility or accuracy.
Given that Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is presently one of the most popular mental health-related topics on the platform, researchers Smita Verma and Suman Kumar Sinha were interested in whether these TikToks prioritized accuracy over sensationalism. Lead author of the study, Verma, explains the importance of this in an interview with PsyPost, stating, “TikTok has increased in popularity exponentially and carries a lot of information/mis-information about various topics including health, which potentially influences the behavior of its users.”
Specifically, Verma makes reference to the increasing demand for ADHD assessments or tests on TikTok—which isn’t a search query that’s inherently harmful or problematic. In fact, it could be useful in many ways. As they explain in their interview, “Reliable information related to [ADHD assessments] on social media could help screen out those who don’t need assessment and thus benefit those who actually need assessment and prevent overwhelming the already limited health resources.”
In light of this, their study simply served to assess the quality, validity and accuracy of the many “#adhdtests” on TikTok—and, in turn, whether they need to be addressed or not.
Why The ‘#adhdhtest’ Trend On TikTok Is Highly Misleading
Verma and Sinha analyzed the 50 most popular TikToks under the hashtag “#adhdtest.” From there, the TikToks were either categorized as “misleading” or “useful” by comparing their content to that of the ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1)—the most current and widely-used ADHD screening measure among mental health professionals.
Specifically, content was only deemed “useful” if it contained at least four out of the six most important symptoms on the ASRS-v1.1’s checklist. Additionally, Verma and Sinha went on to compare the popularity of these TikToks too, in the context of their accuracy. Overall, the results were shocking.
Out of the 50 #adhdtest TikToks, only four were considered helpful; in other words, 92% of the most popular #adhdtest TikToks were misleading in some way or another. To make matters worse, these misleading videos were much preferred over helpful ones—to an alarming extent. They accounted for 93% of saves, 96% of likes and 99% of comments amongst all the TikToks that were analyzed; on the other hand, the four TikToks that contained genuinely useful and accurate information were viewed, liked, shared and commented on by a measly amount of users.
To get an idea of just how inaccurate these TikToks were, as well as their dangers, consider these examples:
The above TikTok—which currently sits at 28.4 million views, with 1.2 million likes—claims to test viewers for ADHD. In reality, however, the video doesn’t contain a single reliable or valid measure of ADHD, let alone does it have anything to do with ADHD. It simply asks viewers to keep track of how many times an object appears on screen; both people with and without ADHD could pass, or fail, this test with ease.
Moreover, the TikToker himself is an ASMR content creator, not a mental health professional, who curates content with the specific intention of eliciting pleasurable autonomous sensory meridian responses. Falsely claiming to be able to screen viewers for a neurodevelopmental disorder in a 59-second video—one created specifically and intentionally to mesmerize all who watch—is not only highly unethical, but ineffably dangerous too.
Similarly, the second TikTok featured above—with 10.2 million views and just over 172,000 likes—is in no way, shape or form an accurate measure of ADHD. The video claims that viewers who are unable to “make the dots disappear” from their vision completely likely suffer from ADHD. In actuality, however, this “test” is a simple showcase of Bonneh’s illusion—also known as “motion induced blindness.”
Regardless of whether or not one has ADHD, after about 10 seconds, the dots will continuously and randomly disappear and reappear—so long as you keep staring at the illusion. In other words, no one on Earth would be able to keep the dots out of their vision; to suggest that this is an indication of ADHD is egregiously misleading.
Where To Find An Accurate ‘ADHD Test’
As Verma concludes in their interview with PsyPost, “There is a very high amount of misinformation related to testing or diagnosing ADHD on TikTok.” They continue, “At present, the average person should not use TikTok as a reliable source of information on ADHD. Most information about ADHD tests on Tiktok trivializes ADHD and misguides people.”
Thus, if you’re concerned about potentially having ADHD, stay away from TikTok. Rather, the ASRSv.1.1 is a much more reliable screening tool—which can be used by rating how frequently you exhibit the following six behaviors:
How often do you have trouble wrapping up the final details of a project, once the challenging parts have been done?
How often do you have difficulty getting things in order when you have to do a task that requires organization?
How often do you have problems remembering appointments or obligations?
When you have a task that requires a lot of thought, how often do you avoid or delay getting started?
How often do you fidget or squirm with your hands or feet when you have to sit down for a long time?
How often do you feel overly active and compelled to do things, like you were driven by a motor?
It’s exceedingly important to note that concerns regarding a potential mental health or neurodevelopmental disorder should always be directed to a mental health professional first. A self-report measure is certainly an accessible means, but a doctor, psychologist or psychiatrist can offer you a true diagnosis—as well as personalized support.
Want to test yourself against the full version of the ASRSv1.1? Take the full test here, and receive science-backed results:ADHD Self-Report Scale