Table 2.

Platform categories, perceived functions, and illustrative participant descriptions.^a

Platform category	Examples	Perceived function	Illustrative participant descriptions
Video-sharing platforms	Douyin and Kuaishou	Visual, intuitive explanations; engaging and accessible formats that are easier to understand than text-heavy content	“Douyin has videos, so they’re more vivid and easier to understand.” (P13)
Text-based social platforms	Xiaohongshu (Red Note)	Real, peer-shared experiences; efficient information scanning via titles and tags; perceived authenticity of user-generated content	“Xiaohongshu has real experiences shared by users, and the comments feel more genuine.” (P17)
AI-powered chatbots	Doubao and DeepSeek	Quick, direct answers; ability to ask follow-up questions interactively; perceived as neutral and nonjudgmental	“I ask the AI, then check browsers, then look at Xiaohongshu to see others’ experiences.” (P15)
Search engines/browsers	Baidu and other search engines	Professionally sourced answers (eg, from doctors); perceived as more authoritative than social media	“On Baidu, you get answers directly from doctors, which feels more professional.” (P3)
Podcasts	—b	In-depth, long-form content; often humorous and engaging; suitable for background listening	“Podcasts are great, as they go into depth and are actually entertaining to listen to.” (P8)

^aPlatform categories reflect thematic patterns derived from participants’ descriptions of their information-seeking practices. The table is intended to illustrate the range of perceived platform affordances, not to quantify usage frequency across the sample. The podcast category (mentioned by 1 participant) is reported for completeness but should be considered illustrative rather than representative of common practice.

^bNot available.