Misleading Ads Fueled Rapid Growth of Online Mental Health Companies

In an advertisement on Facebook and Instagram, a middle-aged man holding a dumbbell says testosterone “literally changed my life,” restoring his energy and happiness.

What the October ad from telehealth startup Hone Health doesn’t say is that the unidentified man is an actor who has never used the prescription drug. It doesn’t mention that testosterone is approved by the Food and Drug Administration only for men with specific disorders and that among its risks are heart attacks and stroke.