Laughing Through the Myths: Using Satirical Humor to Counter Misinformation About Contraceptives on Social Media.

Abstract

The rise of health-related misinformation on social media has caused many young women to shift from hormonal methods to natural contraceptive options. This study examines the effectiveness of satirical corrections in countering misinformation about contraceptives on TikTok. A total of 678 Dutch-speaking women aged 18-35, either watched TikTok videos containing misinformation about contraception followed by (1) no correction, (2) a non-humorous correction, or (3) a satirical correction, or (4) were in a control group that saw no misinformation or correction. Misinformation exposure (vs. control) did not significantly affect beliefs or attitudes toward contraception. However, both non-humorous and satirical corrections (vs. control and no correction) successfully reduced misperceptions and favorable attitudes toward natural contraception. Nonetheless, neither correction method consistently improved acceptance of true claims or attitudes toward hormonal contraception. This suggests that, while corrections can effectively challenge misinformed health beliefs, they may not necessarily foster trust in accurate health information.