The Algorithm Eats Diagnosis

This article critically examines the rise of short-form video content where creators present mental health diagnoses (ADHD, autism, AuDHD) with confident symptom lists that feel universally relatable. The author, who has personal experience with bipolar and schizoaffective disorders, argues that while sharing lived experience is valuable, the algorithm's optimization for watch-through over accuracy creates a genre that launders personal certainty into diagnostic fact. The piece explores how diagnosis is inherently difficult and fallible, yet viral formats skip the nuance of professional evaluation, potentially misleading viewers. It connects this trend to broader issues in tech platforms' content ranking and the ethics of health information dissemination.