Exploring Online Health Information–Seeking Behavior Among Young Adults: Scoping Review (Preprint)

<sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> The ability to access and evaluate online health information is essential for young adults to manage their physical and mental well-being. With the growing integration of the internet, mobile technology, and social media, young adults (aged 18-30 years) are increasingly turning to digital platforms for health-related content. Despite this trend, there remains a lack of systematic insights into their specific behaviors, preferences, and needs when seeking health information online. </sec> <sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> This scoping review aims to understand “What previous studies report regarding young adults’ online health information–seeking behavior (OHISB) for health information in terms of the choice of digital platform and platform user interface (UI)?” It attempts to (1) determine which digital platforms young adults tend to use to search for health information and (2) identify characteristics in the UI that apply to young adults’ aims and trust. </sec> <sec> <title>METHODS</title> A literature search was conducted in February 2024 across Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus. The final search identified 4634 publications, with 912 publications screened after removing duplicates. Of these, 32 articles met the inclusion criteria. Qualitative content analysis was used to extract themes related to young adults’ OHISB. Studies were selected using predefined eligibility criteria, and data were charted in a structured matrix. Charted data were coded manually and analyzed thematically following the 6-phase framework of Braun and Clarke to identify recurring patterns across the studies. This process was embedded within the Arksey and O’Malley framework for scoping reviews. </sec> <sec> <title>RESULTS</title> The findings showed that young adults primarily use search engines and social media, with information drawn from 5 types of internet-based sources. Six key platform characteristics were found to influence their engagement: credible content, user-friendly design, tailored language, interactive features, privacy, and inclusivity. </sec> <sec> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> Although young adults are active digital health seekers, the current literature does not adequately capture their evolving behaviors. Many studies lacked details on how specific platform affordances influence trust and usability. This review highlights the need for more targeted research on how to design platforms and provides information on how digital context affects online health seeking and decision-making. Given the rapid changes in technologies and information environments, future research should explore their interactions with emerging tools, such as artificial intelligence; address the needs of those in vulnerable situations; and support health literacy in online contexts. An improved understanding of UI preferences and platform behaviors can inform more inclusive, youth-centered digital health interventions. </sec>