Social Media Influencers Promoting Unfounded Claims: Sunscreen Harmful to Health on TikTok
In the digital age, social media platforms like TikTok have become a hub for spreading information, including misinformation. One such trend that has gained traction is the anti-sunscreen movement, led by wellness and natural skincare creator Gubba Homestead.
The hashtags #NoSunscreen and #AntiSunscreen have garnered millions of views, with concerns about the safety and necessity of sunscreen spreading rapidly on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. This movement promotes claims that sunscreen ingredients, especially chemical filters like oxybenzone and titanium dioxide, are unsafe or even carcinogenic, a claim not supported by dermatologists and health experts.
Gubba Homestead, who boasts 1.3 million followers on Instagram and regularly reaches audiences of over 500,000 people, has been at the forefront of this movement. Her content includes claims that "we blame the sun for cancer when we should be blaming our diets," and that sunscreen and a poor diet can make people sick.
Data shows a sharp rise in searches for phrases like “does sunscreen cause cancer” and “what causes cancer in sunscreen,” indicating growing public doubt fueled by misinformation circulated on TikTok and other social media. In May 2024 alone, Google searches for these phrases increased by 160% and 70% respectively.
The anti-sun tan lotion movement on TikTok is notably more worrisome compared to other misinformation campaigns seen on the platform. This is because it challenges a well-established fact: that sunscreen is important to protect against ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which causes sunburn, premature aging, and significantly increases skin cancer risk.
Melanoma skin cancer, primarily caused by overexposure to UV light, is on the rise. Cancer Research UK has stated that there will be a record 20,800 cases of melanoma diagnosed this year, up from a yearly average of 19,300 between 2020 and 2022.
Despite the misinformation circulating on TikTok, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that the science does not indicate that any sunscreen ingredients currently available in the US are harmful to human health.
Public health officials and dermatologists continue to emphasize the importance of applying sunscreen due to the potential risks associated with overexposure to UV light and the increased incidence of melanoma skin cancer. As the anti-sunscreen trend continues to gain traction, it is crucial for users to critically evaluate the information they consume and consult reliable sources to make informed decisions about their health.
[1] TikTok Anti-Sunscreen Movement Spreads Misinformation About Sunscreen [2] Instagram Influencer Gubba Homestead Leads Anti-Sunscreen Movement on TikTok [3] Misinformation on TikTok Challenges Sunscreen Safety: A Public Health Concern [4] Sunscreen Use and Skin Cancer Prevention
- The TikTok Anti-Sunscreen Movement, led by Instagram influencer Gubba Homestead, has garnered millions of views, spreading concerns about the safety and necessity of sunscreen across various social media platforms.
- The misinformation campaign on TikTok suggests that sunscreen ingredients like oxybenzone and titanium dioxide are harmful or even carcinogenic, claims not backed by dermatologists and health experts.
- Despite the misinformation, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that current sunscreen ingredients are not harmful to human health, emphasizing the importance of sunscreen use for health and wellness, especially regarding skin care.
- As the anti-sunscreen trend continues, it is crucial for users to evaluating information critically and consulting reliable sources to make informed decisions about lifestyle factors related to health and fashion-and-beauty, including skin care, medical-conditions like skin cancer, and entertainment.
