The openness and influence of video-sharing platforms (VSPs) such as YouTube
and TikTok attracted creators to share videos on various social issues.
Although social issue videos (SIVs) affect public opinions and breed
misinformation, how VSP users obtain information and interact with SIVs is
under-explored. This work surveyed 659 YouTube and 127 TikTok users to
understand the motives for consuming SIVs on VSPs. We found that VSP users are
primarily motivated by the information and entertainment gratifications to use
the platform. VSP users use SIVs for information-seeking purposes and find
YouTube and TikTok convenient to interact with SIVs. VSP users moderately watch
SIVs for entertainment and inactively engage in social interactions. SIV
consumption is associated with information and socialization gratifications of
the platform. VSP users appreciate the diversity of information and opinions
but would also do their own research and are concerned about the misinformation
and echo chamber problems