Abstract As digital platforms increasingly shape health information-seeking, understanding how migrants navigate them is crucial. This study examines why and how Chinese migrants use Rednote, a Chinese-based social media platform, to access local health information. Drawing on the Risk Information Seeking and Processing (RISP) model, it explores the health topics sought, motivations for using Rednote, and strategies for evaluating reliability. Semi-structured interviews with 21 Chinese migrants across multiple countries, analyzed thematically, revealed that participants use Rednote for low- and high-risk physical and mental health concerns, driven by cultural congruence, emotional reassurance, community trust, and instrumental utility. Participants employed both surface-level and analytical strategies to assess credibility, emphasizing Rednote’s role in supporting health decision-making and adaptation to unfamiliar healthcare systems. By applying the RISP model in a transnational digital context and presenting Rednote as a case illustrating platform affordances, this study offers insights for designing inclusive digital health communication for migrant communities.
Xuan Qian (Thu,) studied this question.