Analysis of Social Media Content on Tiktok And Youtube Shorts Regarding The Representation of The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine in Indonesia

Yussri Yahya (Universitas Harapan Bangsa)
Silma Kaaffah (Universitas Harapan Bangsa)
Ikhwan Yuda Kusuma (Universitas Harapan Bangsa)
Siti Setianingsih (Universitas Harapan Bangsa)

Pharmacy Genius
Vol 5 No 2 (2026): Pharmacy Genius

Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary cause of cervical cancer, making HPV vaccination a key strategy for cervical cancer prevention. As social media has become an increasingly important source of health information, evaluating the quality and credibility of HPV vaccine-related content on digital platforms is essential. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the characteristics, quality, credibility, understandability, and educational value of HPV vaccine-related videos on TikTok and YouTube Shorts in Indonesia. Method: A cross-sectional content analysis was conducted on 200 publicly accessible videos, comprising 100 TikTok videos and 100 YouTube Shorts videos identified using the keyword “HPV vaccine.” Video characteristics, uploader categories, content topics, and presentation styles were analyzed descriptively, while information quality was assessed using the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria, Global Quality Score (GQS), modified DISCERN (mDISCERN), and the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT). Result: TikTok videos generated substantially higher audience engagement than YouTube Shorts, whereas YouTube Shorts demonstrated greater information credibility and reliability based on higher JAMA and mDISCERN scores. Vaccination targets, vaccination schedules, and vaccine types were the most frequently discussed topics, while vaccine mechanisms, side effects, and misinformation were addressed less frequently. Both platforms demonstrated high educational quality, with a mean GQS score of 4.43 and PEMAT-T scores exceeding 98%, indicating excellent understandability and actionability. However, source attribution and scientific referencing remained limited across both platforms. Conclusion: TikTok and YouTube Shorts have considerable potential as effective channels for HPV vaccine communication in Indonesia. Strengthening evidence-based communication practices and improving information transparency are essential to enhance public trust, increase vaccine confidence, and support cervical cancer prevention efforts.