More Americans are getting news on TikTok, bucking the trend seen on most other social media sites::In just three years, the share of U.S. adults who say they regularly get news from TikTok has more than quadrupled, from 3% in 2020 to 14% in 2023.
As an out of touch old fart I have to ask:
What is there to see on TikTok besides meme-y short videos?
12-25 year-olds spreading misinformation confidently.
I can’t tell if this information is true or not, but I’m going to believe it because it fits my preconceptions about tiktok.
How does that differ from Twitter 5 years ago or Facebook 10 years ago?
We were 5 and 10 years younger, respectively.
Although, I think also the platforms have probably become more refined at providing a more attention capturing experience.
Being social media, the bar for entry is practically non existent. So yeah, there are 12-25 year olds spreading misinformation. But also, being social media, there are plenty of very intelligent and honest people who provide real news with sources. The problem isn’t really tiktok specifically, just a lack of media literacy and social media
Whatever form of entertainment you want to see. TikTok algorithm quickly adjust the algorithm to show you what you like or don’t skip instantly, and it’s very good at it.
The problem is it’s all superficial content that will vanish from your mind 3s later, so 2h scrolling on TikTok or Reels feel like 2 blank hours from your day. Besides, since the algorithm decides what you’ll see, it’s like your brain shuts down similarly to what happens when you’re vegetating in front of TV watching whatever crap they’re throwing at you.
Everything. Auto racing, sports, TV and movie clips, to CNN, ap, etc all have new clips on there.
So it only has short form videos in tall format? Like FB reels or YT shorts?
And live content, a ton of twitch streamers do both.
I follow some lawyers who do near realtime analysis of the trump cases.
Okay. I read he article and read (some of) the source, but I still have to ask: What is “News” in this context?
Leading me to think about what even “News” is, and in particular what is “News” to the people who answered this, and does that kind of opinion on “News” disqualify them from having an opinion on “News” in the general sense?
I mean, I haven’t actually looked it up, but presumably “news” is information brought to you by a reputable source, so you have some confidence in its accuracy.
The concerning part for me is there’s no way tik tok is regulated, or held to any kind of standard. I’m not sure if sources are regularly cited, or confirmed. It feels like gen z / alpha just taking everything at face value, even blatant propaganda, and assuming it as truth because “nobody would just go on the internet and lie”