Psychology Myths: 5 Common Misinformation on Social Media

Information Pollution and Psychology in the Information Age

Today, access to information is easier than ever. But with this ease comes a serious problem: information pollution. Social media popularizes psychological concepts in a way that everyone can understand, but it also causes incomplete, distorted or completely wrong information to spread rapidly. People trying to understand their own psychological processes can be misled by accepting this information as true.

Especially on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, short videos claiming to offer awareness about human psychology can reach millions of people. However, psychology is not a subject that can be understood and learned in a few seconds with an algorithm suggestion. So, what are the most common psychological misconceptions on social media?

In this article, we take a look at 5 of the most common psychology myths and give you tips on how to discern the right information.

1️⃣ “You should stay away from toxic people”

This phrase, which we often hear on social media, is based on an understanding that suggests cutting off all kinds of challenging relationships completely. However, people are complex and everyone has challenging behaviors from time to time.

Reality: Setting healthy boundaries is important, but not every challenging relationship is “toxic”. In some cases, it may be healthier to try to understand relationship difficulties and strengthen communication.

2️⃣ “If Your Partner Loved You, You Would Know It”

This discourse ignores healthy communication in relationships. Love does not always manifest itself verbally or through ostentatious expressions. People may have different ways of expressing love.

Truth: Open communication and mutual understanding are essential in healthy relationships. Instead of questioning your partner's love, it is more useful to focus on improving your communication.

3️⃣ “True Love Requires No Effort”

On social media, the idea that a healthy relationship should be effortless and natural is widespread. Rhetoric like “if it's the right person, everything will happen naturally” creates a false perception of how relationships actually work.

✔ Reality: Romantic relationships don't always happen naturally; a healthy relationship requires conscious effort and mutual labor. The idealized notion of “effortless love” on social media ignores the fact that conflict and adjustment are natural in relationships. Communication, understanding and commitment between partners are what make a relationship strong.

4️⃣ “To Be Happy, You Must Ignore Negative Emotions”

Content that emphasizes the power of positive thinking sometimes creates the perception that we should completely ignore our emotions.

It's true: All emotions are meaningful. Feelings like sadness, anger and anxiety are healthy and alert us that something is wrong. The important thing is not to suppress these feelings, but to understand why they arise.

5️⃣ “The Therapist Tells You the Solutions”

Movies and social media content may suggest that therapists give direct advice to their clients. People who expect clear solutions, such as “go and make this decision”, may have a false perception of how therapy works.

Reality: Therapy allows the individual to gain insight into themselves and discover solutions. Therapists do not offer magic formulas, but instead guide the person to find their own path.

Conclusion Questioning Knowledge is Important

Not all information about psychology that we see on social media may be accurate. Content that is consumed quickly can sometimes be incomplete or misleading. True insight comes not from short and superficial information, but from in-depth exploration.

Therefore, the healthiest approach is to question the psychological content you encounter, get support from reliable sources and consult an expert when necessary.

*Page content is for informational purposes only. This page does not contain any information on therapeutic health care. Please consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.