East Tennessee Physician Tackles Parenting Misinformation Through TikTok

In the digital age, pediatricians warn parents about online advice overload and the anxiety it can create, as social media becomes a double-edged sword for new parents seeking guidance.

For Kodi Rogers, a mother navigating the world of parenting, social media initially appeared to be a helpful resource. However, she quickly discovered its overwhelming nature.

“I feel like I can get caught up in the weeds of what other kids are doing versus what my kids are doing, and it can actually cause me a lot of anxiety to the point where I have to put limitations on my screen time,” Rogers explained.

Dr. Cliff James, a pediatrician based in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, confirms this is a common occurrence in his practice. He regularly encounters parents who arrive at appointments with concerns they’ve discovered online.

“The loudest voices are always the ones that are going to say something that’s clickbait,” James noted. “So you’re going to get the most views for something that’s controversial, and even if they don’t believe it, they’re going to say it.”

This phenomenon has become increasingly prevalent as parenting advice on social platforms has exploded in recent years. According to recent surveys, over 70% of new parents turn to social media for parenting guidance, creating a market for both legitimate healthcare professionals and unqualified influencers.

Dr. James has taken a proactive approach to combat misinformation by establishing his own online presence. He reaches tens of thousands of parents through TikTok videos and his website, HelpMommy.com, offering evidence-based advice in an accessible format.

“Probably some of the biggest things are helping people who didn’t have access,” James said. His digital outreach has had global impact, reaching far beyond his Tennessee practice. “I’ve diagnosed meningococcus in the Congo. I have had people contact me and ask me questions in Madagascar and Sudan.”

This global reach highlights both the power and responsibility of medical professionals in the digital space. As telehealth continues to expand, with the market projected to grow at 24% annually through 2030, the ability to provide accurate medical information online becomes increasingly crucial.

The challenge, according to James, is that his helpful content competes with potentially dangerous misinformation. “One of the things that’s frustrating as a doctor is a lot of times people are getting their information from people that if they make the wrong choice and their kid gets sick or bad things happen, those people are never going to be held liable and they’re not the ones who are going to have to take care of them,” he explained.

James warns parents to be particularly wary of content creators making grand claims without credible sources or those selling “miracle” products. Another red flag is advice that lacks nuance or context. “When you hear these things, you have to go back and look at the source and sometimes it’s very compelling,” he cautioned.

The pediatrician recommends that parents trust their instincts when navigating the sea of online advice. “I think if parents just worried less and just spent time in the moment, whatever decisions they make in that moment are going to be the best thing that leads to a good future for their kid,” James advised.

This perspective resonates with Rogers, who has learned to balance online information with her own maternal instinct. “The mom instinct is real,” she affirmed. “You know when your child is struggling with something or when they’re sick, you are your child’s best advocate.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics has also weighed in on this issue, releasing guidelines in 2023 encouraging parents to limit their consumption of parenting content on social media and to verify information with healthcare providers.

Medical professionals emphasize that when uncertainty arises, especially regarding a child’s health, parents should consult their own doctor rather than relying solely on internet sources. This traditional doctor-patient relationship remains the gold standard despite the digital revolution in healthcare information.

As social media platforms continue to evolve their content moderation policies around health information, the responsibility ultimately falls on parents to critically evaluate the parenting advice they consume online.