Influence of Social Media Exposure and Behavioral Modeling on the Onset and Course of Functional Tic-Like Behaviors in Adolescents and Young Adults in the Post–COVID-19 Era: A Scoping Review Protocol

This scoping review will map and synthesize the emerging literature on the association between exposure to tic- and Tourette syndrome–related content on social media and the onset, exacerbation, or persistence of functional tic-like behaviors (FTLBs) in adolescents and young adults. Since 2020, a marked increase in abrupt-onset FTLBs has been reported across multiple settings, often in temporal association with increased social media consumption during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The evidence base is heterogeneous and spans clinical case series, observational studies, and analyses of online content. Following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews, we will systematically identify studies published from 2020 onward involving individuals approximately 10–25 years of age with FTLBs or recent-onset tics with suspected functional features, as well as studies examining tic-related content on digital platforms. We will chart how social media exposure is defined and measured, how behavioral modeling or social contagion hypotheses are operationalized, and what methodological approaches are used to support these interpretations. Searches will include major biomedical and social science databases and relevant grey literature sources. Two independent reviewers will conduct study selection and data charting. Findings will be presented in summary tables, evidence maps, and a narrative synthesis, and reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR.