Abortions are on the rise across the UK (in England and Wales, figures are up 17% for January to June 2022 compared to the same period in 2021), while some experts in Scotland are suggesting that this is down to the increased levels of misinformation being spread on social media. In Scotland, the number of abortions that were performed increased by nearly a fifth between 2021 and 2022 and the number of 16–19-year-olds receiving abortion services also went up for the first time in 14 years.

While everyone should have the right to choose an abortion, the rapid increase in terminations could point to a separate issue; specifically, why are more young women getting pregnant without intending to? Some doctors believe they have the answer: the younger generation is getting medical information from unverified sources, such as influencers on social media. The BBC reports that videos posted on TikTok, for example, include fake news about hormonal contraception including the pill, the implant and the jab. 

A disproportionate amount of this misinformation looks at the potential side effects of hormonal contraception. While it’s true that some women experience brutal symptoms, that’s not the case for everyone. Focusing only on the negatives of these safe sex options – without providing any viable alternatives – can paint an unbalanced picture, and encouraging people to ditch birth control entirely can be dangerous.  

Hashtags including #NaturalBirthControl and #QuittingBirthControl have racked up millions of views. This is particularly alarming when you consider that a report from Superdrug Online Doctor found that 55% of the most-watched TikTok videos under health-related hashtags are false or misleading, yet 58% of viewers aged 16-24 believe that the health advice they consume on social media is accurate.

This speaks to a wider issue concerning how informed young women are about sex. How many of us remember what we were taught about sex in school? If you speak to most women, sex education started and stopped with putting a condom on a banana. We weren’t taught about STDs, consent, cervical cancer or hormonal contraception.

If this hasn’t changed, it’s not surprising that young women are seeking out this information online.

Dr Babak Ashrafi, who worked as part of the research team with Superdrug, shared that their study found that girls were more likely to act on health-related social media content, making them more vulnerable to misinformation.

“There is such a taboo around sex among young girls that leads them to believe it’s inappropriate and promiscuous. However, sexual education for young girls is a critical aspect of their overall wellbeing and development,” Ashrafi notes.

He states that sex education should be delivered in a supportive, respectful and non-judgmental manner.

Ashrafi continues: “It needs to be based on scientifically and medically accurate information so girls feel empowered with the skills and support needed to make informed decisions about their sexual health and relationships. It’s crucial to create a safe and non-judgmental space where young girls can ask questions and seek clarification without fear of ridicule or embarrassment.”

When asked if he thinks sex education should change, Ashrafi agreed that it should. “According to our research, 72% of people in the UK felt their sex education at school was either very basic or poor, and just 11% said what they learned was excellent,” he shared.

Poor education about sex can lead to a stigma around talking about sex and sexual health. “Discussing the topic can be challenging for individuals due to its deeply personal and intimate nature, and a significant amount of misinformation and urban legends circulate as a result,” Ashrafi adds.

So, how should we be tackling medical misinformation on social media? Ashrafi acknowledges that the accessibility of medical information on social media has several advantages but notes that it also brings significant challenges.

“I believe it is crucial to address and combat medical misinformation on social media from a well-informed and responsible perspective,” he says. “Our recent study showed that a quarter of people say they have taken health advice from TikTok that has negatively impacted personal relationships or had a negative impact on their mental health. That may be because of the vast array of misinformed content lurking just a swipe away, and of the #HealthTok videos I analysed, half were incorrect or misleading.’’

The internet isn’t the cause of the problem, it’s the lack of sexual education young women have. If we want the women of today to have full autonomy over their bodies, this should start with providing them with the necessary tools and information about sex. 

Images: Getty