Health literacy and the rise of the TikTok patient influencer

Health literacy and the rise of the TikTok patient influencer

Patient influencer Ellen Rudolph discusses the need for popular social media creators to work to improve health literacy among fans and followers.

From mouth taping to the 12-3-30 workout, TikTok practically teems with health trends, some more questionable than others.

But it’s also become a platform that regularly births health or patient influencers – creators who document their personal journeys with bipolar disorder, autoimmune diseases and more. These influencers gather thousands of followers by discussing the symptoms and treatments they’ve tried, and offering a glimpse into their day-to-day lives. […]