Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 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

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
×