Gómez, in collaboration with Coye Cheshire, Ph.D. at UC Berkeley and Katrina Kimport, Ph.D. from UCSF, is leading one of the most extensive studies ever conducted on contraceptive misinformation. The research team has analyzed over 3,500 viral TikToks, identifying the most pervasive and harmful falsehoods circulating on the platform. “This study seeks to better understand misinformation about birth control on TikTok and to test the effectiveness for an information correction strategy,” said Gómez. “Misinformation is a serious threat to health and well-being, particularly in the rapidly changing legal context regarding sexual and reproductive health in the U.S.”
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Correcting the Narrative: Testing the Power of Accurate Information Beyond identifying misinformation, the study seeks to find solutions. The research team is conducting a national survey experiment to determine which strategies are most effective in correcting misinformation. They are testing different messaging styles and sources to understand what makes information credible and persuasive to young audiences. The research focuses on two particularly harmful misconceptions: Minors’ ability to obtain contraception The false conflation of abortion and birth control “Both of these issues have been raised by journalists, researchers, and advocates as necessary areas to focus on, as they could be starting points for further restriction of rights to contraception,” she stated in a UCNI report. The Power of Student Researchers Given the size of the TikTok dataset, the project required an extensive team of coders, including 17 trained undergraduate students who played a crucial role in analyzing the content. “By working with so many young people—who themselves are often the target of TikTok videos—we were able to hone and improve our coding rubric based on their expertise,” Gómez explained. By engaging young researchers, the study is not only building knowledge but also empowering the next generation of reproductive health advocates.
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