El efecto TikTok como nuevo entorno para la divulgación científica

Abstract

Media convergence has led to new and old media merging to disseminate information. Thanks to the rise of social networks at the educational-communicative level, it has generated a new paradigm in the way of educating and accessing certain content. This transformation from solid to liquid has caused an alteration in different contexts, especially at the level of scientific dissemination. The main objective of this study is to demonstrate and deepen in anew emerging knowledge format, how experts and scientific disseminators from different academic areas make use of the TikTok platform as a tool for the dissemination of content and formal knowledge. To this end, a total of 221 microvideos from four selected profiles in Health Sciences, Social and Legal Sciences, Engineering, and Arts and Humanities were analysed using a quantitative-qualitative methodology with the use of content analysis. Furthermore, according to Stempel's constructed week theory, the inclusion criterion for the sample selection derives from the "Science Week" in Spain in the period 2020-2023. Indeed, more and more interested users are accessing these platforms in search of the latest updates on scientific developments, as well as to discuss and interact with current and particularly important science-related topics.