Every day you use social media, you’re bound to discover a new trend. Whether it be a dance, or a clip from a TV show gone viral, the internet is full of trends. Trends related to your health and wellness are no exception.
Long are the days of magazines filled with fad diets and ads for magical bottles of (suspicious) tonic that cure all. It’s the future now, and in the future, it’s all about red light therapy, and that girl you went to high school with who’s now selling the cure to “cortisol face” on Facebook.
Simply put, as humans adapted from print media to the world of social media, so did misinformation, false advertising and the wacky world of health and wellness products. It’s important to realize that everyone is different, meaning that product being pitched to you by a smiling, happy-go-lucky influencer may not work for you, or work at all.
A survey conducted in 2024 reported that 56% of Gen Z turned to TikTok for health and wellness advice. This is concerning, because many people who post health and wellness advice aren’t experts in the field and may not know what they’re promoting. So, if you’re looking at a post on any social media platform, not just on TikTok, look into the person.
Are they qualified? Doctors, registered dietitians and certified personal trainers are all examples of people with qualifications that you can usually trust. If they don’t have any reputable qualifications on their profile, see if they’re citing reputable, legitimate data to back up their claims and advice. If the person doesn’t check both of these boxes, steer clear.
Even if you’ve found a reputable source with reputable data on social media, don’t jump into the world of supplements and wellness routines just yet. Check in with your doctor, and see what they think. Your doctor knows you, and can give you the best advice and plan if you’re concerned about wellness routines and supplements.
Another important reminder: dietary supplements are not FDA regulated, and it’s important to remember that if you’re considering taking supplements. Make sure what you’re buying is legit, because buying fake supplements can lead to you taking chemicals you didn’t plan on taking or even exposing yourself to bacteria or mold due to improper packaging.
Lastly, remember your worth. Social media is a breeding ground for weird and downright impossible-to-achieve beauty standards. Just because some TikTok tells you to use some fancy skincare tool to make you look a certain way, doesn’t mean you should. Follow creators who make you feel confident in your body, not the ones pushing you to look and act perfect, inside and out. Wellness should make you feel good, not bad.
