Quality and Reliability of YouTube Videos on Earthquake Preparedness: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Abstract

Earthquakes have caused devastating impacts throughout history, highlighting the growing importance of pre-disaster risk management. With the increasing use of digital technologies, social media platforms such as YouTube have become widely used sources of information on earthquake preparedness. However, the quality and reliability of such content remain questionable. This study aimed to evaluate the quality, reliability, and content of YouTube videos related to earthquake preparedness. In this cross-sectional study, the top 100 most-viewed videos for the keywords "earthquake preparedness" and "earthquake safety information" were analyzed on January 19, 2026. After applying eligibility criteria, 72 videos were included. Video quality and reliability were assessed using the Global Quality Scale (GQS) and modified DISCERN (mDISCERN), while popularity was measured through view rate and the Video Power Index (VPI). Content analysis and non-parametric statistical tests were performed. The findings showed that the overall quality and reliability of videos were low to moderate. Longer videos tended to have higher quality and reliability scores, whereas engagement metrics did not reflect content quality. These results indicate a need to improve the availability of accurate, evidence-based, and practical earthquake preparedness information on digital platforms.