Young Brits viewed content posted to steroid hashtags on TikTok 89 million times
British TikTok users aged 18-24 have viewed content posted to hashtags promoting steroids and similar drugs over 89 million times, new research has found. Researchers have also uncovered a UK-based business involved in selling these illegal drugs.
The findings are drawn from the Center for Countering Digital Hate’s new report TikTok’s Toxic Trade, which investigates how websites and influencers are profiting from the promotion of steroids and similar drugs, in some cases even targeting teens for sales.
To measure the influence of this content, researchers used TikTok’s own tools to analyse how many times UK users have viewed videos posted to a list of 26 popular hashtags promoting steroids and similar drugs, and how many of those users are aged 18-24.
They found that UK users of all ages have viewed content posted to hashtags promoting steroids and similar drugs nearly 117 million times over the last three years prior to 25 September 2023. TikTok’s own analytics show that 76% of this total, equivalent to 89 million views, came from users aged 18-24.
The report found that content posted to these hashtags often promoted the use of steroids and similar drugs while downplaying the potential risks. Example videos with these hashtags encourage viewers to “just tell your parents they’re vitamins” or advocate for viewers to start using steroids and steroid-like drugs (SLDs) in their teens.
Researchers also identified a number of websites using TikTok influencers to market steroid-like drugs, including one that is registered to an address in London.
Videos posted on TikTok by the UK-based company promote a family of drugs known as Selective Androgen Receptors (SARMs) that are illegal for sale in the UK and can cause health problems. Despite these medical and legal risks, the company brands these drugs “the safest choice” and recommends users take many different kinds at once in a practice it calls “stacking”.
The Center for Countering Digital Hate’s study investigates the promotion and sale of three broad classes of steroids and steroid-like drugs: anabolic-androgenic steroids, peptides and SARMs. In the UK, selling or producing steroids is a criminal offence, while the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has declared that selling SARMs is a criminal offence. The legal status of peptides is unclear.
The Center is calling on TikTok to uphold its community standards which prohibit content “showing or promoting recreational drug use, or the trade of drugs,” and prohibit “showing or promoting young people possessing or consuming… drugs.”
Last year Sky News reported that “tens of thousands” of men in the UK are at risk of needing breast reduction surgery due to steroid use. Health experts estimate that there are up to a million, predominantly male, steroid users in the UK.
Notes
- The following spreadsheet collates data on the number of views of 26 popular pro-steroid hashtags from all UK users and UK users aged 18-24. The data is sourced from TikTok’s own “Creative Center” tool. Data was collected on 25 September 2023.
SLDs UK Data, CCDH, 25 September 2023
- Example videos with these hashtags encourage viewers to “just tell your parents they’re [drugs] vitamins” or advocate for viewers to start using SLDs in their teens.
TikTok, 23 June 2021
TikTok, 15 April 2022
- Biaxol Supplement sells a range of drugs and supplements including SARMs, a class of drugs that is illegal for sale in the UK and carries significant health risks including erectile dysfunction, mood swings and liver problems.
Biaxol Supplements, retrieved 25 September 2023, https://biaxol.com/
Biaxol Supplements, TikTok, retrieved 25 September 2023, https://www.tiktok.com/@biaxol
“Dangerous” muscle-building drugs are being sold illegally in shops around the UK, a BBC investigation has found. The substances, known as Sarms, can cause erectile dysfunction, mood swings and liver problems, doctors warn.
“Sarms: Illegal muscle drugs sold in UK shops, BBC finds”, BBC News, 7 July 2023, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66112366
- The Terms and Conditions on the Biaxol Supplements website list a registered business called Biaxol Trade Ltd. based at address in London.
“This website is operated by Biaxol Trade Ltd. (Reg. 14230941; Legal Address: Suite 4066, 43 Bedford Street, London, WC2E9HA, London, United Kingdom). Throughout the site, the terms “we”, “us” and “our” refer to Biaxol Trade Ltd. Biaxol Trade Ltd. offers this website, including all information, tools and services available from this site to you, the user, conditioned upon your acceptance of all terms, conditions, policies and notices stated here.”
“Terms & Conditions”, Biaxol Supplements, retrieved 25 September 2023, https://biaxol.com/terms-conditions/
- Videos posted by the UK-based company on TikTok promote a family of drugs known as Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) that are illegal for sale in the UK and can cause health problems.
- Despite these medical and legal risks, the company brands these drugs “the safest choice” and recommends users take many different kinds at once in a practice it calls “stacking”.
@biaxol, TikTok, 18 September 2023, https://www.tiktok.com/@biaxol/video/7280092317137014058
@biaxol, TikTok, 13 September 2023, https://www.tiktok.com/@biaxol/video/7278215537317072174
- In response to a comment on one video asking “Anyone know if biaxol is legit”, the company simply responds with a discount code for 10% off its products.
@biaxol, 18 September 2023, TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@biaxol/video/7260861864559643947
- The Center for Countering Digital Hate’s study investigates the promotion and sale of three broad classes of steroids and steroid-like drugs: anabolic-androgenic steroids, peptides and SARMs.
- In the UK, selling or producing steroids is a criminal offence, while the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has declared that selling SARMs is a criminal offence.
“Drugs penalties”, GOV.UK, retrieved 25 September 2023, https://www.gov.uk/penalties-drug-possession-dealing
“Sarms – which stands for selective androgen receptor modulators – are body-enhancing drugs that mimic the effects of anabolic steroids, which increase muscle mass and strength. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) says they are categorised as an “unauthorised novel food” that “should not be consumed”. It adds that “placing them on the market in the UK is a criminal offence”.”
“Sarms: Illegal muscle drugs sold in UK shops, BBC finds”, BBC News, 7 July 2023, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66112366