Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry January 2023 PMID 35473358

The tic in TikTok and (where) all systems go: Mass social media induced illness and Munchausen's by internet as explanatory models for social media associated abnormal illness behavior.

Andrea Giedinghagen

Mentions

66
Peak: 14 in Aug 2022
across 5 sources since Jul 2022

Extended reach

352,456
potential audience

Total likes

4,362

Video views

121,178

Mentions per month

Jul 2022 – Jul 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter49 posts
  • Reddit10 posts
  • News3 articles
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Blogs2 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discourse reveals strong agreement on the problematic influence of social media, especially TikTok, in fostering illnesses like DID and Tourette's, with participants showing high interest and concern. For instance, comments about 'faking disorders for clout' and 'resource shortages' illustrate the perceived severity, while tone and language convey both curiosity and alarm about the social implications of these phenomena.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the seriousness of social media's influence on adolescent health, supporting the article’s concerns.

InterestHigh interest

Participants show high curiosity about the mechanisms behind social media-induced illnesses, frequently referencing the term 'TikTok-induced diseases' and related phenomena.

EngagementModerate engagement

Many comments analyze the implications deeply, discussing faking disorders, resources shortages, and differentiations like conversion vs. fictitious issues.

ImpactHigh impact

The discussions highlight significant worries about the societal and healthcare impact, emphasizing the need for awareness and further research into these phenomena.

Abstract in brief

  • The article discusses how social media influencers are contributing to a surge in adolescents displaying symptoms of illnesses like Dissociative Identity Disorder and Tourette Syndrome, possibly through mechanisms of mass psychogenic illness or social media-facilitated factitious behaviors.
  • It introduces the concept of "Mass Social Media Induced Illness," suggesting that many recent cases might be socially contagious phenomena driven by the online dissemination of illness-related content.
  • The paper proposes a broad framework called Social Media Associated Abnormal Illness Behavior (SMAAIB), which considers how attention, connection, and care are now often reflected through social media metrics like likes and shares, affecting individuals' psychological and sociological experiences.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Grant H Brenner MD DFAPA
@GrantHBrennerMD · X

The tic in TikTok and (where) all systems go: Mass social media induced illness and Munchausen's by internet as explanatory models for social media associated abnormal illness behavior This paper investigates the rise of adolescents developing symptoms mimicking disorders like

Jan 27, 2025 · 50 likes · 8 shares · 8,581 followers View post →
J.D. Haltigan, PhD
@JDHaltigan · X

Highly insightful piece on TikTok and social-media facilitated mental illness self-diagnoses. Have a piece under review now that touches on many of these same strands of concern. https://t.co/VloA91e2WV https://t.co/ji3dytFzoD

Aug 26, 2022 · 25 likes · 14 shares · 39,085 followers View post →
Grant H Brenner MD DFAPA
@GrantHBrennerMD · X

@ShowerBear164 Looks like free access at journal website ? https://t.co/3Yjj42rc4O

Jan 27, 2025 · 6 likes · 1 share · 8,581 followers View post →
Jarryd Bartle
@JarrydBartle · X

@joshgnosis It's worse than "faking it" though, they actually think involuntary tic behaviour was generated via parasocial relationships. There's a similar thing with DID and "systems" people, it's all very disturbing. https://t.co/z0VFTBcGYm

Jul 13, 2022 · 2 likes · 3,148 followers View post →
eli!
@frozenpandaman · X

@ChrisCroy @CartoonsHateHer ahh, the DID teens https://t.co/pKaypBXJbo

Apr 2, 2023 · 2 likes · 2,021 followers View post →
J.D. Haltigan, PhD
@JDHaltigan · X

@wesyang https://t.co/4Mujw0bB5N

Sep 5, 2022 · 1 like · 39,085 followers View post →

All mentions

morrissey !
@YAOIPATHIC · X

two of them that weren’t found there tho: - https://t.co/w2YX7IS308 - https://t.co/wnoAyXhPyq

Apr 23, 2025 · 1 like · 2,578 followers View post →
Eamon
@Eamon_USA · X

RT @GrantHBrennerMD: The tic in TikTok and (where) all systems go: Mass social media induced illness and Munchausen's by internet as explan…

Jan 29, 2025 · 8 shares · 1,761 followers View post →
MeraltrTr
@MeraltrTr · X

RT @GrantHBrennerMD: The tic in TikTok and (where) all systems go: Mass social media induced illness and Munchausen's by internet as explan…

Jan 28, 2025 · 8 shares · 961 followers View post →
adelenthusiast
@adelenthusiast · X

RT @GrantHBrennerMD: The tic in TikTok and (where) all systems go: Mass social media induced illness and Munchausen's by internet as explan…

Jan 28, 2025 · 8 shares · 144 followers View post →
Dr. Tim Brigham
@TBrighamPhd · X

RT @GrantHBrennerMD: @ShowerBear164 Looks like free access at journal website ? https://t.co/3Yjj42rc4O

Jan 28, 2025 · 1 share · 477 followers View post →
Dr. Tim Brigham
@TBrighamPhd · X

RT @GrantHBrennerMD: The tic in TikTok and (where) all systems go: Mass social media induced illness and Munchausen's by internet as explan…

Jan 28, 2025 · 8 shares · 477 followers View post →
Nathalie Martinek PhD
@NarcissismHacks · X

RT @GrantHBrennerMD: The tic in TikTok and (where) all systems go: Mass social media induced illness and Munchausen's by internet as explan…

Jan 28, 2025 · 8 shares · 6,938 followers View post →
JMª Sans Chavarrías
@ChavaSans · X

RT @GrantHBrennerMD: The tic in TikTok and (where) all systems go: Mass social media induced illness and Munchausen's by internet as explan…

Jan 28, 2025 · 8 shares · 1,433 followers View post →
Dr. Daniel J. Winarick
@DrWinarick · X

RT @GrantHBrennerMD: The tic in TikTok and (where) all systems go: Mass social media induced illness and Munchausen's by internet as explan…

Jan 28, 2025 · 8 shares · 11,169 followers View post →
Tania Marshall
@TaniaAMarshall · X

RT @GrantHBrennerMD: The tic in TikTok and (where) all systems go: Mass social media induced illness and Munchausen's by internet as explan…

Jan 28, 2025 · 8 shares · 34,660 followers View post →
Grant H Brenner MD DFAPA
@GrantHBrennerMD · X

@ShowerBear164 Looks like free access at journal website ? https://t.co/3Yjj42rc4O

Jan 27, 2025 · 6 likes · 1 share · 8,581 followers View post →
Grant H Brenner MD DFAPA
@GrantHBrennerMD · X

The tic in TikTok and (where) all systems go: Mass social media induced illness and Munchausen's by internet as explanatory models for social media associated abnormal illness behavior This paper investigates the rise of adolescents developing symptoms mimicking disorders like

Jan 27, 2025 · 50 likes · 8 shares · 8,581 followers View post →
Miss toot
@Misstootatorta · X

@rebel_rem @CeraGibson @pluralHaven Evidence suggesting that modern day adolescents are VERY prone to faking DID https://t.co/N5o8mW0qQx

Dec 6, 2024 · 41 followers View post →
Miss toot
@Misstootatorta · X

@rebel_rem @CeraGibson @pluralHaven Womp womp https://t.co/N5o8mW0qQx

Dec 6, 2024 · 41 followers View post →
Fay Brown http://www.projectsnowball.org
@AutonomyCounsel · X

RT @AutonomyCounsel: Faking disorders for clout is unconcsionably offensive, taking resources they don't need for attention, & fraudulent p…

Nov 27, 2024 · 1 share · 1,376 followers View post →
Fay Brown http://www.projectsnowball.org
@AutonomyCounsel · X

Faking disorders for clout is unconcsionably offensive, taking resources they don't need for attention, & fraudulent payments / monetisation / benefits. This is a phenomenon that is showing major shortages for treatments due to the pretenders taking them https://t.co/Lr4qsjwi6c

Oct 17, 2024 · 1 like · 1 share · 1,376 followers View post →
johan RBH boie
@jobo1111 · X

@HuXijin_GT TikTok western version is totally different from “controlled” China version .. TIKTOK induced DISEASES in the West among suicides, depression … https://t.co/qGddnAtF7X https://t.co/hARabKCkGs https://t.co/WSsM3v41sS

May 8, 2024 · 408 followers View post →
johan RBH boie
@jobo1111 · X

@HuXijin_GT TIKTOK induced DISEASES https://t.co/hARabKCkGs https://t.co/WSsM3v41sS https://t.co/hARabKCkGs

Apr 24, 2024 · 408 followers View post →
johan RBH boie
@jobo1111 · X

@HuXijin_GT TIKTOK DISEASES/ TIKTOK induced DISEASES https://t.co/hARabKCkGs https://t.co/WSsM3v41sS https://t.co/hARabKCkGs

Apr 24, 2024 · 408 followers View post →
johan RBH boie
@jobo1111 · X

@HuXijin_GT TIKTOK induced DISEASES … https://t.co/WSsM3v41sS https://t.co/hARabKCkGs

Apr 24, 2024 · 408 followers View post →
fistro
@nuevouso · X

The tic in TikTok and (where) all systems go: Mass social media induced illness and Munchausen’s by internet as explanatory models for social media associated abnormal illness behavior https://t.co/0nqwSQssYd

Apr 19, 2024 · 256 followers View post →
Simple
@SimonSimplicio · X

This isn't exactly what I wanted but can anyone hook me up w a PDF of this? https://t.co/zlG6d2DIqQ https://t.co/wOY04PNPrh

Apr 18, 2024 · 1 like · 1,716 followers View post →
memes
@memesmsw · X

@e_hernandez8 Lots of writing about this!! Super interesting. - https://t.co/N4fUGi0Egx - https://t.co/aZFn4Mcv79 - https://t.co/S9Rw2iB96y - https://t.co/WP7NIAejoD

Nov 29, 2023 · 1 like · 2,234 followers View post →
Positive Five
@strangertemple · X

https://t.co/A0h80SCvRt OK that's perfect

Nov 4, 2023 · 498 followers View post →
Marc Gozlan
@MarcGozlan · X

@AudeVisine A propos d’un trouble factice facilité par les médias sociaux : The tic in TikTok and (where) all systems go: Mass social media induced illness and Munchausen’s by internet as explanatory models for social media associated abnormal illness behavior https://t.co/UrVld5qv8X (1/2)

May 8, 2023 · 1 like · 20,734 followers View post →
Araucaria Araucana
@AraucariaArauc1 · X

@roderickgraham Perhaps you should take it up with these authors? https://t.co/nzhoXCfOzy

May 6, 2023 · 1 like · 307 followers View post →
Ana Lisenkiene
@lisenkiene · X

@emmma_camp_ @nytopinion Probably related: https://t.co/EKlF00HuPR

Apr 19, 2023 · 1 like · 251 followers View post →
eli!
@frozenpandaman · X

@ChrisCroy @CartoonsHateHer ahh, the DID teens https://t.co/pKaypBXJbo

Apr 2, 2023 · 2 likes · 2,021 followers View post →
eli!
@frozenpandaman · X

https://t.co/pKaypBXJbo

Mar 31, 2023 · 2,021 followers View post →
Colin Mulligan
@cmulligan01 · X

@LeorSapir Just looking at the title this is from one of the doctors recent paper from the Center. Missing the forest for the trees. https://t.co/8lqAO2ZCXP

Feb 9, 2023 · 726 followers View post →
Paul Nestadt
@paulnestadt · X

I have recently been doing more work in #childpsych, and this phenomenon of social media-assisted factitious disorders- specifically claiming DID or autism spectrum dx- has been starting to worry me. Unclear if conversion vs fictitious. Great summary here: https://t.co/QiNpA34GW9

Dec 7, 2022 · 1,035 followers View post →
Joam Buttock
@JxnW · X

@UrgleB @sbkaufman I'm trying to distinguish ROGD from persistent GD. To draw an analogy, involuntary and voluntary ticks in Tourette's and Munchausen. The 70-80% figure may reflect people who experience different neurological phenomena from the 20-30%. https://t.co/ndkAz9mLiC

Oct 27, 2022 · 613 followers View post →
Ana Lisenkiene
@lisenkiene · X

@DrKatEpi https://t.co/EKlF00I2Fp

Sep 16, 2022 · 251 followers View post →
J.D. Haltigan, PhD
@JDHaltigan · X

@wesyang https://t.co/4Mujw0bB5N

Sep 5, 2022 · 1 like · 39,085 followers View post →
Yudhistira Ghifari Adlani
@alephlove · X

RT @JDHaltigan: Highly insightful piece on TikTok and social-media facilitated mental illness self-diagnoses. Have a piece under review now…

Aug 29, 2022 · 14 shares · 505 followers View post →
Amanda
@AmandaLuvsRoses · X

RT @JDHaltigan: Highly insightful piece on TikTok and social-media facilitated mental illness self-diagnoses. Have a piece under review now…

Aug 27, 2022 · 14 shares · 1,819 followers View post →
Jeff Sechelski
@JeffSechelski · X

RT @JDHaltigan: Highly insightful piece on TikTok and social-media facilitated mental illness self-diagnoses. Have a piece under review now…

Aug 27, 2022 · 14 shares · 1,442 followers View post →
doctorcherokee
@doctorcherokee · X

RT @JDHaltigan: Highly insightful piece on TikTok and social-media facilitated mental illness self-diagnoses. Have a piece under review now…

Aug 27, 2022 · 14 shares · 5,256 followers View post →
Talha g - Sıfır Hipotezi
@0_hipotezi · X

RT @JDHaltigan: Highly insightful piece on TikTok and social-media facilitated mental illness self-diagnoses. Have a piece under review now…

Aug 27, 2022 · 14 shares · 3,986 followers View post →
Daniella Santos, PhD
@daniell38160896 · X

RT @JDHaltigan: Highly insightful piece on TikTok and social-media facilitated mental illness self-diagnoses. Have a piece under review now…

Aug 27, 2022 · 14 shares · 913 followers View post →
Peter Maksym
@StellarBones · X

RT @JDHaltigan: Highly insightful piece on TikTok and social-media facilitated mental illness self-diagnoses. Have a piece under review now…

Aug 27, 2022 · 14 shares · 796 followers View post →
CGallMD
@GallaherCaren · X

RT @JDHaltigan: Highly insightful piece on TikTok and social-media facilitated mental illness self-diagnoses. Have a piece under review now…

Aug 27, 2022 · 14 shares · 8,050 followers View post →
Basil Greene
@Basil46638959 · X

RT @JDHaltigan: Highly insightful piece on TikTok and social-media facilitated mental illness self-diagnoses. Have a piece under review now…

Aug 27, 2022 · 14 shares · 204 followers View post →
Apophis
@ApophisSpace · X

RT @JDHaltigan: Highly insightful piece on TikTok and social-media facilitated mental illness self-diagnoses. Have a piece under review now…

Aug 27, 2022 · 14 shares · 387 followers View post →
AuthentiKate ☂️
@kateiswell · X

RT @JDHaltigan: Highly insightful piece on TikTok and social-media facilitated mental illness self-diagnoses. Have a piece under review now…

Aug 27, 2022 · 14 shares · 10,831 followers View post →
Helblind
@Helblind1 · X

RT @JDHaltigan: Highly insightful piece on TikTok and social-media facilitated mental illness self-diagnoses. Have a piece under review now…

Aug 26, 2022 · 14 shares · 17 followers View post →
memes_control_dreams
@basedmemebot · X

RT @JDHaltigan: Highly insightful piece on TikTok and social-media facilitated mental illness self-diagnoses. Have a piece under review now…

Aug 26, 2022 · 14 shares · 172 followers View post →
J.D. Haltigan, PhD
@JDHaltigan · X

Highly insightful piece on TikTok and social-media facilitated mental illness self-diagnoses. Have a piece under review now that touches on many of these same strands of concern. https://t.co/VloA91e2WV https://t.co/ji3dytFzoD

Aug 26, 2022 · 25 likes · 14 shares · 39,085 followers View post →
Jarryd Bartle
@JarrydBartle · X

@joshgnosis It's worse than "faking it" though, they actually think involuntary tic behaviour was generated via parasocial relationships. There's a similar thing with DID and "systems" people, it's all very disturbing. https://t.co/z0VFTBcGYm

Jul 13, 2022 · 2 likes · 3,148 followers View post →
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