Viral Banana Peel “Cure” Hits 5 Million Views
In early 2025, a TikTok video featuring a self-proclaimed “natural healer” went viral for claiming that rubbing the inside of a banana peel on the penis could cure erectile dysfunction. The video racked up over 5 million views in a week, spurring countless stitches, reaction clips, and even user testimonials, some of them serious, others satirical. But nowhere in the post was there mention of medical evidence, licensed professionals, or known physiological mechanisms. It was simply anecdote, presented as fact, and amplified by TikTok’s algorithm.
This is not a unique case. Search “ED cure” or “boost testosterone” on platforms like TikTok or YouTube, and you’ll encounter a flood of unvetted content, often presented with high production value and charismatic delivery. For many men, especially those hesitant to speak openly with a doctor, such content fills an information void, but it may also lead them dangerously astray. In the digital health landscape, virality rarely equals validity.
Audit of TikTok & YouTube ED Videos: Quality Scores and Common Myths
A growing number of studies have attempted to quantify just how much misinformation about erectile dysfunction circulates on social media. One such analysis, conducted by Babar et al. (2022), performed a cross-sectional review of ED-related videos on TikTok and YouTube. Using validated health information quality scoring tools, the researchers found that over 70% of the content surveyed was rated as either “misleading” or “low reliability.” The majority of these high-engagement videos lacked input from licensed healthcare professionals and often promoted non-evidence-based treatments.
Common myths included exaggerated claims about “natural testosterone boosters,” the idea that abstaining from pornography alone could cure ED, and suggestions that dietary supplements (often with undisclosed ingredients) would deliver guaranteed results. Many of these videos use emotionally charged language, such as “restore your manhood” or “reclaim your power,” appealing to shame and insecurity rather than informed medical decision-making. While some clinicians and organizations do maintain credible accounts, their content is often overshadowed by influencers without clinical expertise. The result is a distorted information environment in which highly engaged posts prioritize entertainment over accuracy, creating a confusing and potentially harmful experience for users seeking guidance on an already sensitive issue.
Why Misinformation Travels Fast—Algorithm Incentives, Taboo Topic, Hope Marketing
Health misinformation spreads especially well when it targets shame, silence, and uncertainty, and erectile dysfunction checks all three boxes. Unlike conditions that are openly discussed, ED remains highly stigmatized, particularly among younger men who associate sexual performance with self-worth. For many, turning to TikTok or YouTube feels safer than speaking with a doctor. Algorithms take it from there. Social platforms reward engagement above all else. Videos with dramatic before-and-after claims, bold titles like “Cure ED in 3 Days,” and confident delivery often receive amplified reach. The content doesn’t need to be accurate — it just needs to trigger emotion: hope, fear, or validation. That’s the foundation of “hope marketing,” a term used by digital health researchers to describe how unverified advice is packaged as empowerment. Influencers leverage pseudoscientific language, edited testimonials, and vague disclaimers to cultivate trust while skirting responsibility.
Taboo topics like ED also offer limited opportunity for public correction. When a claim about nitric oxide smoothies or “dopamine fasting” goes viral, few urologists or evidence-based clinicians are able or willing to respond in kind. The audience is not only vast but algorithmically shielded from counterpoints. According to the Royal Society’s 2023 report on health misinformation, once misleading content reaches scale, it becomes very difficult to correct, even when better evidence exists.
The combination of platform incentives, emotional targeting, and professional silence has created an information vacuum. In that space, viral ED myths flourish – not because they’re true, but because they’re clickable.
Consequences: Delayed Diagnosis, Risky Supplements, Mental Health Harm
The harms of erectile dysfunction misinformation extend well beyond wasted time. One of the most serious consequences is delayed diagnosis of underlying health conditions. Erectile dysfunction can be an early warning sign of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, low testosterone, or depression. When men turn to social media “cures” instead of clinical evaluation, they may miss the opportunity for early detection and treatment of potentially serious medical issues.
Simultaneously, the flood of online myths has led many to self-treat with unregulated supplements or so-called “herbal” remedies. The FDA has repeatedly warned consumers about erectile dysfunction products found to contain undisclosed prescription drugs, including sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis), often in dangerous combinations or dosages. These hidden ingredients can cause severe interactions, especially for those on nitrates, blood pressure medications, or antidepressants. What looks like a “natural” solution may in fact be a pharmacological risk in disguise.
Mental health outcomes are no less concerning. Men who try viral “fixes” and don’t see results may experience deepening feelings of inadequacy, hopelessness, and sexual shame. Rather than seeking expert help, they may retreat from intimacy altogether. Some internalize the failure as personal weakness rather than a complex medical issue — compounding anxiety, eroding self-esteem, and straining relationships.
In effect, misinformation fosters a cycle: false hope leads to failure, which fuels further desperation, making the next viral promise even more tempting. This is not harmless content. For many men, it becomes a barrier to getting better.
Best Practice Tips: Credible Accounts to Follow, How to Fact Check, Talk to a Real Clinician
To navigate a landscape flooded with misinformation, users should seek out content from board-certified urologists, clinical psychologists, and health organizations like the American Urological Association (AUA) or Mayo Clinic. Always verify credentials: real experts cite peer-reviewed sources and avoid miracle claims. Be cautious of language that promises instant results or uses emotional appeals to shame or “empower.”
If ED symptoms persist for more than a few weeks, speak directly with a licensed clinician. Many offer confidential telehealth consultations. Real help exists, but it starts with filtering fact from fiction and trusting science over sensationalism.
References
- Babar, M., Ali, A., & Khan, S. (2022). Cross-sectional analysis of erectile dysfunction-related videos on TikTok and YouTube. Andrologia, 54(10), e14392. https://doi.org/10.1111/and.14392
- JMIR Infodemiology. (2025). Health information quality on TikTok: A content analysis of erectile dysfunction videos. JMIR Infodemiology, 5(1), e66845. https://infodemiology.jmir.org/2025/1/e66845
- Royal Society. (2023). The economics of online health misinformation: Incentives, scale, and consequences. https://royalsociety.org
- World Health Organization. (2024). Social media and health misinformation: Guidance for risk communication. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/social-media-health-misinformation-2024
