"In the 1960s it was considered a watershed moment of liberation for women. Now, a new generation is being inundated with messages online that birth control is evil and poison. Across social media feeds, influencers are venting about hormonal contraception. Some are spreading false claims that taking synthetic hormones causes infertility, or can even be responsible for bad romantic decisions because you are attracted to different men than you would be if you were off the pill."
"Researchers at La Trobe University analysed 100 TikTok videos from the top five hashtags related to contraception methods (#birthcontrol, #contraception, #thepill, #naturalbirthcontrol, and #cycletracking) that had collectively gained nearly 5bn views and 14.6m likes. They found that more than half of the video creators (53%) explicitly rejected hormonal birth control, and more than one in three (34%) expressed a distrust about healthcare professionals. Meanwhile, 38% endorsed fertility tracking, often without disclosing the limitations of this method."
Analysis of 100 TikTok videos from top contraception hashtags with nearly 5 billion views and 14.6 million likes showed 53% of creators explicitly rejected hormonal birth control, 34% expressed distrust of healthcare professionals, and 38% endorsed fertility tracking often without disclosing its limitations. Influencers circulate false claims that synthetic hormones cause infertility or alter romantic attraction and amplify known side effects such as weight gain and depression. Millions of posts promote natural contraceptive methods and fertility awareness as equally or more effective than the pill. The trend is driven by wellness-industry messaging against 'unnatural' substances, younger women's skepticism of pharmaceuticals, and social media dynamics that reward inflammatory, fear-based content. Misinformation about contraception raises serious concerns about potential negative consequences for women's health and decision-making.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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