All top YouTube videos on THC oil and skin cancer were misleading and low quality
An analysis of the 10 most-viewed YouTube videos on THC oil and skin cancer found all were poor quality, 90% had poor reliability, and all were classified as misleading, yet most top comments were favorable toward the content.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
All 10 videos received the lowest possible Global Quality Scale score (1 = poor quality). Nine of 10 received a DISCERN score of 0 (poor reliability). All were classified as misleading. Despite this, 48% of top comments were favorable and 48% neutral, with only 4% unfavorable.
Key Numbers
10 most-viewed videos analyzed; 10/10 GQS score of 1 (poor); 9/10 DISCERN score of 0 (poor); 10/10 misleading; 48% favorable comments, 48% neutral, 4% unfavorable
How They Did This
Researchers analyzed the 10 most-viewed YouTube videos on THC oil and skin cancer using the Global Quality Scale, DISCERN score, and established useful/misleading criteria. Top comments were categorized as favorable, unfavorable, or neutral.
Why This Research Matters
Patients with skin cancer may encounter these popular videos and delay or forgo evidence-based treatment. The disconnect between poor information quality and overwhelmingly positive audience reception makes this a significant public health concern.
The Bigger Picture
This mirrors broader patterns of health misinformation on social media platforms. When the most popular content on a cancer treatment topic is uniformly misleading and audiences overwhelmingly approve, the potential for patient harm is significant.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Only 10 videos analyzed. YouTube content changes rapidly. Comment analysis is limited in scope. Does not measure whether viewers actually changed treatment decisions.
Questions This Raises
- ?Have platforms like YouTube taken any steps to flag misleading cancer treatment content?
- ?Do patients who view these videos delay conventional treatment?
- ?Would counter-messaging from dermatologists reach the same audiences?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 100% of top THC/skin cancer YouTube videos were misleading
- Evidence Grade:
- Small but systematic content analysis using validated quality instruments, limited to a single platform and point in time.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2021.
- Original Title:
- Tetrahydrocannabinol and Skin Cancer: Analysis of YouTube Videos.
- Published In:
- JMIR dermatology, 4(1), e26564 (2021)
- Authors:
- Mamo, Andrina, Szeto, Mindy D(2), Mirhossaini, Roya, Fortugno, Andrew, Dellavalle, Robert P
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03316
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can THC oil cure skin cancer?
While some preclinical research has explored cannabinoids and cancer cells, there is no clinical evidence that topical THC oil treats skin cancer. All 10 popular YouTube videos making such claims were rated misleading by researchers.
Why were the comments so positive if the videos were wrong?
The study did not investigate why, but the disconnect between poor content quality and positive audience reception suggests viewers may lack the expertise to evaluate medical claims or may be drawn to alternative treatment narratives.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03316APA
Mamo, Andrina; Szeto, Mindy D; Mirhossaini, Roya; Fortugno, Andrew; Dellavalle, Robert P. (2021). Tetrahydrocannabinol and Skin Cancer: Analysis of YouTube Videos.. JMIR dermatology, 4(1), e26564. https://doi.org/10.2196/26564
MLA
Mamo, Andrina, et al. "Tetrahydrocannabinol and Skin Cancer: Analysis of YouTube Videos.." JMIR dermatology, 2021. https://doi.org/10.2196/26564
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Tetrahydrocannabinol and Skin Cancer: Analysis of YouTube Vi..." RTHC-03316. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/mamo-2021-tetrahydrocannabinol-and-skin-cancer
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.