Exploring fake news awareness and trust in the age of social media among university student TikTok users

Abstract

This study explores the awareness of fake news and trust dynamics among University students on TikTok. Utilizing qualitative research through semi-structured interviews with University students in Vietnam, the findings reveal a generally acknowledged presence of fake news on TikTok, accompanied by varying levels of trust in the platform’s content. Key factors influencing trust include content creator credibility, user engagement, and familiarity with creators. Beyond academic implications, this research offers practical insights into the digital literacy, information consumption habits, and susceptibility to fake news among university students. The study advocates for heightened digital literacy education, encouraging critical evaluation of online content, not only benefiting the university demographic but contributing to broader public awareness.

IMPACT STATEMENT

In our research, we delve into the fascinating world of TikTok, one of the most popular social media platforms, to investigate the critical intersection of fake news awareness and trust among university student TikTok users. As misinformation proliferates online, understanding how young adults navigate and perceive information is paramount. This study investigates the unique dynamics within the TikTok community, shedding light on the susceptibility to false narratives and the factors influencing trust in news sources. By unraveling the complexities of fake news awareness in this context, we aim to empower users with insights that enhance their media literacy and resilience against misinformation. In an age where information shapes perceptions, this research contributes to fostering a more discerning and informed public, ultimately strengthening the foundations of trust in the digital age.

Keywords:

• Fake news
• TikTok
• media trust
• social media
• credibility
• university students

REVIEWING EDITOR:

• Guangchao Charles Feng, School of Communication, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong

SUBJECTS:

• Information & Communication Technology (ICT); Psychological Science; Cognitive Psychology; Educational Psychology; Higher Education; Research Methods in Education; Music; Media Communication

Theoretical implication

This study has four main theoretical implications. Firstly, while the majority of studies focus on factors influencing brand trust (Wright & Cherry, 2023), trust in influencer marketing (Graves, 2022), purchase intention (Sekarlingga & Hartono, 2023), and factors affecting the spread of fake news (Thanh et al., 2021), this study can provide insights into social media trust and factors affecting TikTok’s trust. It may help expand our theoretical understanding of how individuals assess the trustworthiness of information sources in a digital ecosystem. Secondly, as an exploratory study, the research provides valuable insights into university students’ behaviors, attitudes, and experiences on TikTok. These insights can serve as a foundation for future, more comprehensive research in the field of media studies, contributing to the development of theories and models specific to TikTok and similar platforms. Thirdly, the study’s application of the "illusory truth effect" to understand students’ behavior on TikTok contributes to our theoretical understanding of how cognitive biases can influence information consumption in the context of social media. This highlights the relevance of psychological theories in explaining user behavior in digital environments. Moreover, by examining media trust and fake news awareness among university students, the study can provide theoretical insights into the digital behaviors of the "digital native" generation. Understanding how these individuals navigate and trust information on emerging platforms like TikTok can inform theories related to media literacy and generation-specific information processing (Lalduhzuali et al., 2022).

Practical implication

The study’s findings can inform practical efforts to enhance media literacy education programs, particularly for university students. Institutions can tailor their curriculum to address the specific challenges and nuances of social media platforms like TikTok, teaching students critical thinking skills and fact-checking techniques applicable to the platform (Kahne et al., 2012). Universities and educational institutions can develop digital citizenship programs that not only teach students about responsible online behavior but also encourage them to critically assess information (Bergstrom et al., 2018) on social media platforms like TikTok. These programs can foster a culture of media literacy and responsible information sharing (Dolanbay, 2022; Lalduhzuali et al., 2022; Velásquez et al., 2017). Additionally, social media platforms, including TikTok, can benefit from the study’s insights to improve content moderation and fact-checking mechanisms. Implementing robust systems to detect and label fake news can help reduce its impact on users’ trust in the platform. This study helps both university students and the broader public, to foster a culture of critical thinking and responsible online behavior.

Limitation and recommendation for future research

This study has several limitations as follows. Firstly, the study primarily relies on qualitative interviews. Employing multiple research methods (mixed methods) could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon. The findings are derived from a set of selected interviewees, which might limit the generalizability of the results to different crisis scenarios, industries, and cultural contexts. The outcomes may be influenced by the distinctive attributes of universities in Danang. Subsequent research could encompass a broader spectrum of scenarios to investigate the level of trust university students place in the information they encounter on social media like TikTok. Additionally, TikTok users may have privacy concerns about sharing specific details of their personal use. They may choose not to disclose certain information, such as the frequency of their TikTok usage or the types of content they engage with, to protect their privacy. Future research can investigate into the interaction between different factors affecting the level of trust on TikTok.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Duong Hoai Lan

Duong Hoai Lan is a lecturer in the Department of Media and Communication of Swinburne Vietnam Alliance Program, FPT University, Danang Campus, Vietnam. She gained master’s degree in Human Resources and Consulting from Lancaster University, the United Kingdom and Bachelor degree of Business Management from the University of Queensland, Australia, She has over 8 years of work experience in training and development and 3 years in teaching higher education.

Tran Minh Tung

Dr. Tran Minh Tung is an Acting Director of Swinburne Danang, Lecturer in Business and Media. He gains (his 1st Doctoral Degree) a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA Degree) in Marketing Management from University of Technology and Management (UITM), Poland and a Master of Science in Business Information Systems from Heilbronn University, German. He has over 18 years of work experience and over 11 years in teaching and sharing at both over 40 Enterprises and over 22 Higher Educational Institutions in Vietnam. Recently, he has completed and obtained (his 2nd Doctoral Degree) Professional Doctorate in Educational Administration & Leadership from EIU-Paris (EIU PD) in 2023 which can assist him in his personal development plan (PDP) and professional career in current role in leading and administrating international higher education.