Audience Reception Toward the Digital Privacy of Children with Medical Conditions in the TikTok Content of @donnamrtunslehah_

Abstract

The rise of TikTok has encouraged the sharing of personal content, including that involving children with medical conditions, raising concerns about digital privacy. This study aims to examine audience reception of the digital privacy of children with medical conditions in TikTok content from the account @donnamrtunslehah_ using a reception analysis approach.This research employs a qualitative method with Stuart Hall’s reception analysis, which classifies audience reception into dominant, negotiated, and oppositional positions. Informants consist of parents of children with medical conditions, NGO representatives, and caregivers/physiotherapists. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed based on informants’ interpretations of the content. The results show varied audience reception. Some informants occupy a dominant position, perceiving the content as educational and supportive. Others fall into a negotiated position by acknowledging its benefits while considering privacy concerns. Meanwhile, oppositional positions emerge from informants who view the content as potentially violating children’s privacy. These differences are influenced by the informants’ backgrounds and their understanding of digital privacy.