Scroll, Watch, Verify 

Image Via The Guardian

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Luckily and unluckily, we are living in an age when the news is as accessible as ever. On every platform — whether it’s streaming services, cable, or apps like TikTok and Instagram — current events are at the forefront of media. While this is a privilege, it certainly has its faults. There are questions to ask when faced with the media about current events. Is what we are seeing the full story? Is the source reliable? Is the information factual or simply an opinion? It feels endless. It is extremely difficult to know for certain whether the media we consume is accurate or biased. 

TikTok has changed the way younger audiences find information. Instead of intentionally visiting a newspaper website or turning on a news broadcast, people can happen upon current events at any moment. The Pew Research Center reports that TikTok has become an important news source for many Americans, with 52% of users saying they regularly get their news from TikTok. The institute goes on to explain that the percentage is even higher among younger users, with 39% of adults under 30 saying they regularly get news from TikTok. Clearly, TikTok is no longer just an entertainment platform; it is now a sales platform and an unreliable news outlet. For many young people, it has become one of the ways they first encounter information about worldly events.

Part of TikTok’s usefulness comes from its accessibility. One of its main draws is that audiences are able to “easily and quickly consume news in a convenient, familiar space.” This convenience can be valuable, particularly for people who might not seek out traditional news sources on their own. News organizations have recognized this shift in audience behavior. In fact, audience revenue and engagement expert Ali Mahmood claims that “news media have to follow where the audiences are.” If young people are spending their time on TikTok, journalists have an opportunity to meet them there rather than expecting them to find traditional news sources on their own. TikTok can therefore serve as an introduction to stories for news reporters that a person might have otherwise never encountered.

The format of TikTok can also make complicated topics feel more approachable. Short videos allow creators to explain an event quickly, often using visuals, captions, graphics, and simple language. Pew Research notes that TikTok’s relaxed environment and interaction between creators and viewers can create a more “intimate and authentic form of communication.” This style can make news feel less distant and more personal, which is certainly a draw. This relatability is one of TikTok’s greatest strengths, but it can also become one of its weaknesses. On TikTok, credibility can become tied to a creator’s trustworthiness or familiarity. The person delivering the information can become almost as important as the information itself. Fewer than “1% of all the TikTok accounts that Americans follow belong to institutional news sources.” Unfortunately, viewers seem to value relatability or connection to creators’ personalities over credibility. This can lead to uninformed opinions due to constant consumption of misinformation amongst the youth.  

This is not to say TikTok is completely useless. When it comes to discovering news, understanding different perspectives, and becoming interested in issues that might otherwise go unnoticed, TikTok can be a valuable resource. With that in mind, it is important to be aware of the risks of misinformation, bias, opinion, and algorithmic reinforcement inherent in the app. TikTok should be treated as a doorway to the news rather than as the sole source. Using content to introduce a story, raise a question, or provide a perspective is a great way to bring attention to pressing issues, but the story does not end there. It is the viewer’s responsibility to look further. 

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This article was edited by Seraphine Saghafi and Matias Origgi