British members of Gen Z are turning away from traditional news sources in favor of TikTok, a UK report has found. The generation tends to use the platform for celebrity stories and light-hearted news. Regardless, it’s a fascinating generational shift.
Young Adults Consume News Online
A report on news consumption in the UK has highlighted how British members of Gen Z have moved away from traditional news sources. Of young adults aged between 16 and 24, 83% consume their news online – compared to 68% of adults in general – with only 9% of them consuming news directly from a traditional source.
News on Social Media
According to the report, 37% of people aged between 16 and 24 consume news via social media. Instagram topped the results with 44%, followed by Facebook (33%), X – formally Twitter – (31%), and TikTok (29%). But the results were different for younger Gen Zers, with video platforms like TikTok and YouTube beating the rest.
Different Platforms Are Used for Different Stories
The report also found that different social media platforms were used for different types of news. Twitter, for example, was top of the list for political news and much further down for more casual stories. TikTok, on the other hand, was generally used for celebrity stories and light-hearted news.
The Concern
The main concern with the findings of the report is the abundance of fake news across the internet. Social media platforms don’t have as much regulation as traditional news sources, which makes it easy for fake news to spread. Some people, particularly older generations, are worried about the effect this could have on society.
Social Media Users Shared Their Thoughts
The report was shared across the internet and online commenters had a lot to say. One person wrote: “I get all my news on social media and I’m 26, so elder Gen Z or baby millennial depending on how you look at it. With social media, I can look at several different reports of one story. I can look at all the facts and all the angles. Way better than turning on one news channel and taking their word as gospel, in my opinion.”
Others Weren’t as Understanding
Plenty of online commenters weren’t as understanding and many expressed disdain for younger generations, claiming they lack intelligence. One person wrote: “Wow. I pray for the future. Consuming news from social media? As if these kids aren’t dumb enough already. I think they’re beyond help.”
Others Discussed Older Generations
Some online commenters discussed older generations, like millennials and boomers, and how they consume news. “I think every generation has this. Boomers are notorious for believing everything they read on Facebook. Gen X tends to get a lot of news from it too. Millennials get a lot of stuff from Reddit and YouTube. For zoomers, it’s TikTok. It’s not really a new thing. People find traditional news boring.”
Others Turned To Xenophobia
Anti-Chinese xenophobia is extremely common. Upon hearing about the report, several online commenters accused China, given that TikTok’s a Chinese app, of brainwashing children and feeding them misinformation designed to turn them away from “real” news. One person sarcastically wrote: “Good to see Chinese propaganda is increasing in effectiveness.”
Some People Didn’t See the Big Deal
Some online commenters didn’t see the big deal. One person wrote: “I don’t understand why this is an issue. There are TikTok pages that literally report news basically word-for-word from the source. Then they discuss their opinions. I think that’s valuable for a teen.”
The World Is Different Now
Some online commenters rejected the idea that members of Gen Z are stupid and, instead, suggested that the world is simply changing. One person wrote: “I think a lot of people are misinterpreting this. This isn’t a sign of a stupid generation or a brainwashed generation. This is a sign of TV, old-style TV, dying. Nobody watches TV anymore. We use streaming services, social media, Youtube, TikTok. Kids aren’t stupid. The world is just different now.”
We’re Doomed, Apparently
Plenty of people disagreed with the aforementioned commenter. “What do you mean? Of course people still watch TV, traditional TV at that!” one individual replied to the aforementioned commenter. “Nope. We’re doomed,” another said. “I don’t care what the reason is. What I care about is that children are being indoctrinated with fake news,” a third wrote. A fourth replied: “Children? You know the oldest Gen Zers are in their mid-twenties, right?”
Different Generations Will Never Agree
Throughout history, older generations have always looked down on younger ones. Whether it’s close-mindedness or jealousy, boomers will always find a way to hate on millennials and zoomers. Perhaps, soon, the cycle will restart and we’ll begin to see Gen X and millennials outraged at Generation Alpha and those who come after them.
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