FROM EXPOSURE TO DIGITAL RESILIENCE: YOUNG PEOPLE’S CAPACITY TO IDENTIFY AND PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST HARMFUL CONTENT ON TIKTOK

Author: Nguyen Thi Ngoc Ha

ABSTRACT

The development of TikTok has increased the risk of young people being exposed to misinformation and harmful content in the digital environment. This study aims to analyze the current state of exposure and clarify the structure of young people’s digital resilience through four components: the ability to identify harmful content, risk awareness, self-protection skills, and digital technological capital. Survey data from 300 high school students and university students in Hanoi were analyzed using SPSS, with Cronbach’s alpha reliability testing and descriptive statistics. The findings show that exposure to harmful content is a common experience among young people, while their capacity for critical evaluation and information verification remains limited. The study conceptualizes digital resilience as a multidimensional construct, thereby contributing empirical evidence and suggesting directions for digital media education for young people.

Keywords: TikTok; harmful content; digital resilience; digital capital; young people.

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