Choose your side in orthognathic surgery: YouTube™ or TikTok™

This study aims to assess the reliability and overall quality of publicly accessible video content related to orthognathic surgery on two major social media platforms: TikTok™ and YouTube™. A total of 320 videos were systematically analyzed on TikTok™ and YouTube™ using the search terms “jaw surgery” and “orthognathic surgery.” Data collection was carried out between March and April 2024. Each video was evaluated using the Global Quality Score (GQS) to determine general content quality and a modified version of the DISCERN instrument to assess reliability. Video reliability was assessed using the DISCERN instrument, a standardized tool for evaluating the quality of health information. Additional parameters, including video duration, view count, number of likes, comments, and uploader type were recorded and analyzed. All searches were performed in incognito mode without VPN to minimize algorithmic bias and ensure reproducibility. For the ‘jaw surgery’ term, statistically significant associations were observed between uploader type and platform (p < 0.05): patients were the predominant uploaders on TikTok, whereas doctors and clinics were more common on YouTube. Comparative analyses demonstrated that GQS and DISCERN scores were comparable between platforms, with TikTok showing slightly higher mean scores for the ‘Orthognathic Surgery’ term, though these differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). YouTube videos were longer in duration for certain comparisons, whereas TikTok videos received significantly higher engagement metrics (views, likes, comments, and subscriber counts) (p < 0.05). The content about orthognathic surgery on both platforms was found to be of poor to moderate quality (mean GQS: 1.40–2.49 out of 5) and limited reliability (mean DISCERN: 0.81–2.21 out of 4), with significant variation between search terms and platforms. This study did not involve human participants, identifiable personal data, or experimental interventions. All analyzed material consisted of publicly accessible online videos, which are exempt from institutional review board approval according to relevant guideline (e.g., the Declaration of Helsinki and local regulations). Therefore, ethical approval was not required and was not sought.