Serious journalism is losing ground as short-form videos increasingly become the public’s primary source of news
- Graphic content and privacy violations raise serious ethical concerns
- Popularity on the app overrides accuracy
- TikTok delivers fast, engaging news but lacks fact-checking
TikTok is designed to promote short videos, catering to a shorter attention span among its target audience. In a few scrolls on the app, one can learn about natural disasters in other countries, corruption, and bombing of ATM’s etc.
At first the app was used for comedy, dance trends and lip-syncing challenges but now TikTok is changing the way media works. As more users make use of it for news, an important question emerges: is this good for journalism?
The answer is complicated. Comment sections of TikTok news creators like Jaxx Amahle, Amani Dube and Dylan Page, have people saying, “I don’t watch news at all, I follow you to get latest updates” and some say, “You make news sounds fun. That is why I follow you because generally news is boring”.
TikTok’s reach is indisputable, with the dominant presence of Gen Z, it has the power to shape public opinion faster than traditional outlets. In time of crisis, from the war in Gaza to wildfires in California, the app has outpaced traditional media providing unfolding, raw, and unfiltered events. The users offer real time flow of information that is immediate and feels authentic.
However, this is where the danger lies. On TikTok there is no fact-checking, which makes it easy for inaccurate information to spread faster. The accounts that have a large following and number of likes, are most likely to be seen as credible meaning people believe what is shared on such accounts without questioning.
It is difficult to tell the difference between what is true and what is not from TikTok citizen journalists. This comes with several risks because if individuals don’t recognize when something is false, a lot of damage can be done like the spread of misinformation, damage to reputation etc.
Some of these creators share information inaccurately and unethically. For example, they often reveal the names of sexual assault victims, along with where they go to school or work.
Sometimes, while scrolling through the app, I come across graphic footage of people bleeding to death at accident scenes, all because so-called “citizen journalists” feel the need to show every detail. Imagine being a parent and opening the app only to see your child dead in such a scene—how does one ever heal from something like that?
What is undeniable is that many find TikTok a convenient and fun platform to get news. But it is also true that some of the so-called news may be misinformation or disinformation. Thus, good fact-based journalism remains relevant regardless of the increasing influence of platforms such as TikTok.
FEATURED IMAGE: Scale showing the preferred platforms for news consumption among younger generations. Photo; Dikeledi Ramabula
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