All top YouTube videos on THC oil and skin cancer were misleading and low quality | Research

The takeaway

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.

Dermatologists, cancer patients, public health communicators, and anyone interested in health misinformation on social media.

100% of top THC/skin cancer YouTube videos were misleading

What the researchers 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.

Why it 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 numbers in context

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 the study worked

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.

What this study cannot 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.

How to read the evidence

Small but systematic content analysis using validated quality instruments, limited to a single platform and point in time.

When this study was published

Published in 2021.

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.

Questions still open

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?

Common 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.

Read the original research

Tetrahydrocannabinol and Skin Cancer: Analysis of YouTube Videos.

JMIR dermatology, 4(1), e26564

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

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