As reported by the BBC, hundreds of social media adverts are promoting sunbeds with misleading health claims, a BBC investigation has found. Posts on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook suggest tanning beds can boost energy, treat skin conditions, or even improve mental health
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has already banned six adverts for making irresponsible claims, including one that suggested an “eight-minute” session could prevent colds and flu, and another that claimed UV rays could stimulate the thyroid to aid weight loss.
The misinformation appears to be reaching young people in particular. Nearly a quarter of under-25s wrongly believe sunbeds reduce the risk of skin cancer, according to research, and a 2025 YouGov survey found around one in seven 18- to 24-year-olds had used a sunbed in the past year — double the rate for all age groups.
Health authorities have warned the claims are potentially dangerous. The government described the misinformation as “irresponsible,” while an NHS dermatologist called the volume of false sunbed advice on social media “genuinely terrifying.”
Experts say the health risks are serious. The World Health Organization reports that using a sunbed before age 35 increases the risk of melanoma by 59% later in life.
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