ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / NEWS

Scammers Misuse Healthcare Workers’ Images on TikTok to Market Doubtful Supplements

TikTok is being used for promoting unverified supplements.
PUBLISHED MAR 6, 2024
Cover Image Source: Healthcare workers’ images are being misused (representative image) | Photo by Edward Jenner | Pexels
Cover Image Source: Healthcare workers’ images are being misused (representative image) | Photo by Edward Jenner | Pexels

Many TikTok accounts are exploiting actual life images of doctors, nurses, and dentists to push various supplements and health claims on social media, according to a recent Forbes story. Although the exploitation of medical professionals' identities to market supplements is not entirely new, social media platforms have made it much easier to reach wide audiences with questionable claims.

Image Source: Photo by George Milton | Pexels
Social media influencers are on the rise (representative image) | Photo by George Milton | Pexels

The majority of the time, these photos are used without the medical experts' knowledge or agreement. Usually, they show young, female healthcare professionals with stethoscopes or work badges, dressed in scrubs. Frequently, the subtitles imply that the person has been sacked from a hospital and is now disclosing "secret" information that they were previously prohibited from discussing. Typically, these postings combine sales pitches for supplements with general health advice and they include a link in the bio that directs readers to the products' online stores. The study states that these accounts are free to promote supplements in any way they see suitable, provided that they refrain from using specific terminology regarding diseases or making explicit promises about prevention or treatment.

TikTok has emerged as a major force in bringing virtual goods to life, especially in the supplement sector. The platform has pushed several items into the public eye, including green powders, chlorophyll water, and berberine, which markets itself as a natural substitute for Ozempic. It's crucial to remember that none of these goods can be supported by scientific data. Controlling the content on TikTok is difficult. A representative for TikTok who was contacted by Forbes claims that the platform periodically reviews content and accounts, eliminating any that don't comply with its guidelines. According to TikTok's claims, before products may be listed on TikTok Shop, vendors must submit U.S. food labeling evidence. Forbes discovered this when they reported multiple posts for fraud and false information.

Image Source: Photo by Polina Tankilevitch | Pexels
TikTok has emerged as a major force in bringing virtual goods to life (representative image) | Photo by Polina Tankilevitch | Pexels

Using healthcare workers' pictures on TikTok to sell iffy supplements has made a lot of people mad and it's clear we need some big changes in the rules. People want companies to be more open and honest about what they're selling. This situation might make us rethink how we advertise health stuff online and make sure we're doing it in the right way. Hopefully, this mess will lead to better protection for both buyers and sellers, so everyone can trust what they're getting.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska| pexels
Rethinking how we advertise health stuff online is important (representative image) | Photo by Karolina Grabowska | Pexels

The FDA is in charge of making sure supplement labels are accurate, but the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is in charge of social media advertising. The FTC has, however, found it difficult to keep up with the growing quantity of social media influencers and the quick speed at which online content is being created. Medical professionals and TikTokers themselves bear the obligation of monitoring and dispelling false information on platforms such as TikTok as agencies are finding it difficult to keep up with the workload. Nevertheless, the research states that professionals whose identities were stolen are unlikely to be successful in their legal actions. If they take legal action such elements, the amount of damages they will receive would probably be small, if they are given anything at all.

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
Jennings had a record-setting winning streak as a contestant before he became the host.
15 hours ago
The player, Ron Wheeler, tragically got no clues after his letter picks for the final puzzle.
19 hours ago
The former kids champion, Skyler Hornback knew what was coming.
21 hours ago
The fans took issue with the clue being too tough and unnecessary for the contestants.
1 day ago
Cuban wanted to strike a deal with the founder of Coconut Girl and gave her an ultimatum.
1 day ago
Although the word did make a lot of difference, some fans felt that the decision was ridiculous.
1 day ago
The guest, who found the item online, didn't think it was the real deal until he heard its value.
2 days ago
The player Samantha secured the first big win of Ryan Seacrest's run on the show.
2 days ago
The sisters wanted to keep their father's legacy alive, but also had their careers to focus on.
2 days ago
The shopper noticed that the watermelon which she bought three days ago was deflated.
2 days ago
The guest couldn't believe that her collection was worth so much money.
3 days ago
While all the Sharks were out, Mark Cuban saw the potential in "Garage Celebrations."
4 days ago
The loss was ironic as the retired teacher coulnd't get a phrase commonly used in classrooms.
4 days ago
The recalls were issued for a range of products including tires, air conditioners and power banks.
4 days ago
The guest who got the item as a gift from a neighbor had little to no idea about its significance.
4 days ago
Harrison got a good deal for the fossil although it wasn't what he had thought.
5 days ago
The player, Beth Barbee left everyone in the dust with her impressive puzzle solving skills.
5 days ago
Given her celebrity status, Harrison cut her some slack in the negotiations.
5 days ago
The deal ultimately fell apart as the seller, Scotty was looking to get $375,000.
6 days ago
The guest was blown away by the six-figure appraisal for his father's John Falter illustration.
6 days ago