Health #foryou

Health #foryou?: Health education communities on TikTok

Principal Investigator: Clare Southerton

Funder: UNSW Sydney

Progress: April 2020-ongoing

Abstract: This is a qualitative study investigating the circulation of health information and advice on TikTok both from health professionals and laypeople. The study has two key focus areas: sexual health information (with a particular interest in LGBTQIA+ content) and mental health information. Using digital ethnography, visual analysis and discourse analysis, this study examines the intersection of platform affordances and cultures, with existing health education practices to consider what TikTok health education makes possible, as well as the limitations of edutainment.