Digital Forensics Analysis of YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok on Android Devices: A Comparative Study

This study presents a comprehensive digital forensics analysis of social media platforms, specifically YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, conducted on two distinct Android devices: a OnePlus 7 Pro and a Motorola X4 smartphone. Our methodology involved dedicating one phone exclusively to content creation (posting), while the other was used for engagement activities (watching, liking, commenting, and direct messaging). This approach enabled us to simulate and analyze distinct user roles on these platforms effectively. Both application-based and browser-based interactions were carefully examined. Using Magnet Axiom, we captured and analyzed images of the devices to document user activities. Additionally, Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tools were employed to access and investigate the browser history databases on both phones. This paper discusses our findings, emphasizing the digital forensics analysis of these platforms, highlighting the differences and similarities in user interactions across these platforms, and the implications of using various devices and access methods.