Digital Health Literacy in TikTok: Algorithmic Competency, Multi-Source Verification, and Uses-Gratification Among Islamic University Students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.38194/jurkom.v9i2.1635Keywords:
Algorithmic Competence;, Digital Health Literacy;, Multi-Source Verification;, Uses and GratificationAbstract
Social media's increasing volume of health information provides opportunities for knowledge dissemination but also increases exposure to misinformation and disinformation. This study is framed by digital health literacy (DHL) as the primary analytical lens, and uses and gratifications theory as a complementary lens to understand the students’ reasons for seeking, selecting, and using health information on social media. It reviews the way of students of different faculties and study programs at UIN Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau conduct search and verification of health information. This is a descriptive qualitative study, which was carried out in April 2026. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions which is analyzed thematically using the Miles, Huberman and Saldaña model. The results imply that TikTok is the primary platform for health information seeking, which is attributed to its engaging audiovisual format and students’ algorithmic competency in responding to algorithm-driven content. Multi-source verification practices also vary depending on academic background, with students citing scholarly articles, personal experience, peer opinions, and checking influencer credibility. Entertainment-driven media use generally tended to result in situational health information seeking. Students were generally better at recognizing misinformation than correcting it publicly, pointing to the need for DHL education in university curricula.
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