TIKTOK COMO FERRAMENTA DE EDUCAÇÃO EM SAÚDE: PERSPECTIVAS PARA A SAÚDE PÚBLICA

• Palavras-chave: Desinformação em saúde; Algoritmos; Saúde coletiva

• Keywords: Misinformation in health; Algorithms; Public health.

• Abstract: TikTok has established itself as a leading platform for sharing information, especially among young adults. Although it offers potential for accessible health education and communication, it also acts as a vector for unprecedented scales of health misinformation. This chapter analyzes its technical functioning, the mechanisms of algorithmic recommendation, and the effects on public health. Data indicate that approximately 1 in 5 videos contain misleading or inaccurate health information, and the recommendation system exposes new users to misinformation in just 40 minutes. The expansion of harmful content targeted at vulnerable adolescents, including promotions of extreme diets and dangerous weight loss methods, is particularly concerning. This analysis links the impact on public health, highlighting how algorithms aimed at increasing engagement can promote the circulation of content without scientific validation. It is argued that the authority of health influencers, based on engaging visual communication and accessible language, often replaces proven scientific authority. The findings emphasize the need for greater transparency in algorithms, the development of integrated assessment tools, and a more active presence of qualified health professionals on the platform. It is concluded that understanding how TikTok functions—acting simultaneously as a space for education and a vector for misinformation—is essential for public health professionals, communicators, and researchers in the digital age.