London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 31, 2025

TikTok influencer with Tourette's Glen Cooney says scientists shouldn't exclude their voices after report on rise in tic symptoms

TikTok influencer with Tourette's Glen Cooney says scientists shouldn't exclude their voices after report on rise in tic symptoms

Glen Cooney tells Sky News that scientists must "use us rather than coming up with stuff against us" after multiple reports suggest some videos may be contributing to a rise in tic symptoms among teenagers.

A TikTok influencer has criticised scientists for excluding voices like his in their research after a report found some videos may be contributing to a rise in tic symptoms.

Glen Cooney, 41, an influencer who has Tourette's Syndrome (TS), a condition which causes tics, has told Sky News that scientists must "use us rather than coming up with stuff against us".

He said scientists risk creating a culture of blame against influencers like himself and could damage "people's perceptions about tics".

Glenn Cooney has spoken out about research into the impact of tics on TikTok users


It comes after research published in the British Medical Journal found that videos by TikTok influencers with tic symptoms could be having a concerning impact on users.

The report revealed that, between November 2020 to January 2021, tic clinics at two London children's hospitals both received three to four referrals per week for acute onset tics in teenage girls.

Researchers predicted that referral rates could continue to double if patterns continued but also acknowledged that factors like stress and depression impacted by the pandemic were likely to have contributed to the increase as well.

Dr Tammy Hedderly, who co-authored the report, previously told Sky News that tics increase when they are "observed or talked about" as he spoke about how TikTok could be having a detrimental impact.

But Glen Cooney, known on TikTok as this.tourettes.guy, said doctors need to work with TikTok influencers who have tic symptoms, and who have worked to change people's perceptions about them.

While Mr Cooney agreed there has been a rise in tic symptoms among some teenagers, he said: "We need to be careful how we go about this.

"It has taken years to get to a stage where we can change people's perception about tics. But it can be changed back just like that from studies like this."

He added: "They need to use us instead of coming up with stuff against us. They should reach out to us to use our platforms to try to teach people instead of blaming us."

Mr Cooney added TikTok influencers, like himself, receive hundreds of messages from teenagers to parents asking for advice while the TikTok community has helped to educate people.

But he added that more needs to be done to educate people about tics and Tourette's Syndrome, beyond the social media platform.

The Guernsey-based TikToker has amassed over 3.8 million followers since starting his account last August, with some videos gaining over 60 million views.

Mr Cooney developed facial tics when he was 10 years old following the death of his 11-year-old cousin.

He began creating videos under #tourettes and #tics after seeing hate comments mocking young TikTokers who have TS or displayed tic symptoms.

Responding to Mr Cooney's comments, neurologist Dr Hedderly said: "We are keen to engage in research and discuss ideas for how to help with the influencers and it's reassuring to know they are keen to be involved in finding solutions.

"We agree there are several factors involved and these need to be worked out by a wide group of involved people including those presenting with tic like episodes."

Meanwhile, Dr Jeremy Stern, medical director of Tourette's Action, said: "It has become clearer recently that people with tics can be influenced by viewing others having tics on social media.

"These are mechanisms by which people who already have tics and people who have previously not had tics, can be influenced or triggered by others they admire when displaying tics on social media."

He said reasons for increases in functional tics and tic movements both in people with and without pre-existing tics during the pandemic is "not entirely clear", but functional tics may be related to psychological distress from the pandemic.

Dr Stern added that further research is needed to understand the deeper causes of tic outbreaks to help those who experience them.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×