Analysis of Disaster Risk Communication Strategies through Social Media: A Study of the Effectiveness of Lembang Fault Education on TikTok and YouTube Platforms

Abstract

The Lembang Fault is an active tectonic structure with the potential to generate significant seismic impacts in the urban area of Bandung. While public awareness of earthquake risk has increased through social media, this awareness has not yet translated into functional risk literacy or preparedness-oriented understanding. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of video-based risk communication on social media, particularly TikTok and YouTube, in conveying earthquake risk related to the Lembang Fault. Using a qualitative approach, the research integrates interviews with a geology expert, audience interviews, and a review of relevant scientific literature. The findings indicate that public understanding remains focused on earthquake magnitude, while critical factors such as local geological conditions, ground motion amplification, and secondary disaster risks are insufficiently understood. TikTok is effective in capturing initial attention and raising awareness, whereas YouTube provides greater capacity for structured, detailed, and credible risk communication that supports information retention and comprehension. The study concludes that effective disaster risk communication depends not solely on the platform used, but on how scientific messages are visually structured, contextually framed, and narratively delivered to align with urban audience media consumption patterns.