Quantifying social media's impact on public interest in red light therapy through Google Trends analysis

Summary: Abstract Body: Social media platforms, particularly TikTok, have emerged as influential sources of medical information and treatment trends. In early 2024, red light therapy gained substantial attention on TikTok for skincare applications, despite limited scientific understanding of its safety and long-term effects with home use. Here, we quantify the impact of TikTok exposure on public interest in red light therapy and compare interest trends with conventional skincare treatments. We analyzed Google Trends data from November 2019 to November 2024 for red light therapy-related terms ("light therapy", "red therapy", "red light masks", "red therapy benefits", "photobiomodulation", "low level laser therapy") and control terms ("chemical peel", "skin care", "exfoliation"). Statistical analyses included unpaired t-tests comparing pre- and post-February 2024 search volumes, linear regression, Mann-Kendall trend tests, and Chow tests for structural breaks. Search interest for red light therapy terms showed significant increases post-February 2024 (p<0.001) compared to the previous year, except for "low level laser therapy" (p=0.297). Linear regression revealed significant positive trends for red light therapy terms (slopes ranging from 0.082-0.148, all p<0.001), while control terms showed either no significant trends or slight declines. Mann-Kendall tests confirmed strong upward trends for therapy-related terms (Tau=0.384-0.684, all p<0.001), contrasting with stable or declining trends for conventional treatments. Chow tests indicated significant structural breaks (all p<0.001) between red light therapy and control terms, suggesting distinct pattern changes coinciding with TikTok exposure. TikTok's influence significantly increased public interest in red light therapy, surpassing traditional skincare treatments. These findings highlight social media's role in shaping healthcare trends and underscore the need for healthcare providers to stay informed about viral treatments to address patient inquiries and concerns effectively. Catherine Z. Shen^{1, 2}, Aaron T. Zhao^{1, 2} 1. University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States. 2. Zhao and Shen Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States. Clinical Research: Epidemiology and Observational Research