Abortions are on the rise across the UK (in England and Wales, figures are up 17% for January to June 2022 compared to the same period in 2021), while some experts in Scotland are suggesting that this is down to the increased levels of misinformation being spread on social media. In Scotland, the number of abortions that were performed increased by nearly a fifth between 2021 and 2022 and the number of 16–19-year-olds receiving abortion services also went up for the first time in 14 years.

While everyone should have the right to choose an abortion, the rapid increase in terminations could point to a separate issue; specifically, why are more young women getting pregnant without intending to? Some doctors believe they have the answer: the younger generation is getting medical information from unverified sources, such as influencers on social media. The BBC reports that videos posted on TikTok, for example, include fake news about hormonal contraception including the pill, the implant and the jab.

A disproportionate amount of this misinformation looks at the potential side effects of hormonal contraception. While it’s true that some women experience brutal symptoms, that’s not the case for everyone. Focusing only on the negatives of these safe sex options – without providing any viable alternatives – can paint an unbalanced picture, and encouraging people to ditch birth control entirely can be dangerous.

Young women are bombarded with misinformation about sex – we need better education