KEBUTUHAN YANG MENDORONG PENGGUNAAN TIKTOK UNTUK MEMPEROLEH KEPUASAN DALAM INFORMASI TENTANG KULINER (Survei pada Mahasiswa Ilmu Komunikasi Angkatan 2020 Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang)

This study is motivated by the phenomenon of the increasing use of TikTok as a culinary reference platform among students. The purpose of this research is to identify the needs and forms of satisfaction in using TikTok as a reference for culinary places among Communication Science students of the 2020 cohort at Muhammadiyah University of Malang. The research problem focuses on why students choose TikTok as a reference for culinary places and the extent to which they feel satisfied with the recommendations provided through this platform. The target of this research is students who actively use TikTok to search for dining recommendations. This study employs a qualitative survey method with a descriptive approach. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with five informants selected based on certain criteria, namely students who actively use TikTok and have utilized the platform as a reference to visit culinary places. Data analysis was conducted using the Uses and Gratifications theory. The findings reveal three main needs of students in using TikTok as a culinary reference: (1) ease of access, where TikTok allows users to quickly access various culinary content through the For You Page (FYP) feature; (2) relevance and accuracy of information, where TikTok's algorithm accurately adjusts culinary recommendations to user preferences; and (3) trust in content creators who provide direct and transparent reviews. Student satisfaction is divided into two forms: (a) functional satisfaction, where students feel satisfied because the information provided is relevant, accurate, up-to-date, and the concise videos make it easy for them to find suitable culinary places; and (b) psychological satisfaction, where students are entertained by creative and interactive content and feel involved in trending culinary topics, providing them with emotional satisfaction and social recognition.