Online Exercise Advice for Anxiety Relief on Short-Form Video Platforms: A Cross-Sectional Content Analysis of Quality, Reliability, and Safety
This cross-sectional content analysis of 180 short-form videos on TikTok and Bilibili reveals that while exercise-based anxiety-relief content varies significantly in quality, reliability, and safety, videos from professional or institutional sources are generally superior to those from general creators, and high audience engagement does not necessarily correlate with informational quality.
Original paper licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). This is an AI-generated explanation of the paper below. It is not written or endorsed by the authors. For technical accuracy, refer to the original paper. Read full disclaimer
Imagine the internet as a massive, bustling digital carnival. On one side, you have TikTok, a whirlwind of quick, flashy rides that spin you around in seconds. On the other, Bilibili, a sprawling theme park with longer, more detailed attractions. A new study decided to take a walk through both parks to see what kind of "anxiety-relief exercise" advice people were actually finding there.
The researchers, Zheng Zhang and Juan Li, acted like detective inspectors. They didn't just look at the signs; they watched the videos, counted the likes, and checked if the advice was safe to follow. They gathered 180 videos in total—96 from TikTok and 84 from Bilibili—collected between March 15 and March 22, 2026.
The Great Length and Popularity Showdown
First, the inspectors noticed a huge difference in the "ride" itself. Bilibili videos were much longer, with a median length of 8.39 minutes, while TikTok videos were quick bites, averaging just 1.20 minutes.
But here's the twist: Bilibili was the crowd favorite. The videos there got way more attention.
- Likes: Bilibili videos had a median of 743.00, compared to 268.50 on TikTok.
- Collections (Saves): This was the biggest gap. Bilibili videos were saved 1374.50 times on average, while TikTok videos were saved only 91.50 times.
- Shares: Bilibili videos were shared 208.00 times, versus 53.50 for TikTok.
You might think, "Wow, if everyone is saving and sharing it, it must be the best advice!" But the study says stop right there. The researchers found no link between how popular a video was and how good or safe it was. Just because a video has a million likes doesn't mean it's a safe guide for your anxiety. In fact, the study explicitly argues against using popularity (likes, shares, saves) as a marker for quality.
The "Who Made It?" Factor
So, if popularity isn't the answer, what is? The study suggests that who uploaded the video matters the most.
Think of the uploaders as different types of guides:
- The Pros: Institutions, medical doctors, mental health professionals, and fitness pros.
- The Regulars: General creators and people sharing their own personal stories (peer experience sharers).
The results were clear: The Pros gave better advice. Videos from medical and mental health professionals scored higher on quality, reliability, and safety. They were more likely to say, "Here is who this is for," "Here are the safety rules," and "If you feel really bad, go see a doctor."
In contrast, videos from general creators and peer sharers tended to score lower. They were often less complete and sometimes missed important safety warnings. The study suggests that while personal stories are relatable, they might not be the safest bet for medical advice.
The "What Exercise?" Question
The researchers also wondered if the type of exercise changed the quality. Did yoga videos have better advice than running videos?
The answer was a bit surprising: It didn't really matter. Whether the video was about running, swimming, HIIT, or stretching, the quality and safety scores were about the same. The only thing that changed with the exercise type was the length of the video. For example, videos about HIIT or mind-body exercises tended to be longer, but that didn't make them safer or more reliable.
The Safety Score Surprise
Here is a curious detail: Even though TikTok videos were shorter and less popular, they actually had a slightly higher safety score than Bilibili videos. The researchers suggest this might be because TikTok videos are so short that creators have to get straight to the point, while longer Bilibili videos might ramble on without explicitly stating the safety rules. However, the authors note this is just a suggestion based on the data, not a proven fact.
The Bottom Line
The main takeaway is a bit of a reality check for anyone scrolling for help.
- Popularity is a trap: A video with thousands of likes is not necessarily a safe or high-quality guide.
- Source matters: You are more likely to find safe, reliable advice from doctors, mental health pros, and official institutions than from random creators or people sharing personal stories.
- Length isn't everything: A long video isn't automatically safer, and a short video isn't automatically worse.
The study concludes that while short videos are a great way to find exercise ideas, you shouldn't trust them just because they are trending. If you are looking for help with anxiety, you need to look for the "Pro" guides who include clear safety warnings and know when to tell you to seek professional help. The internet is full of rides, but not all of them have safety bars.
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