Just as other media platforms reported, there’s a big change in the way news is consumed that’s taking place with Generation Z. That demographic pretty much views legacy news as perfectly trustworthy, just totally irrelevant and boring. Most of the under-30s feel mainstream news organizations are not telling them the whole truth. Consequently, they look to apps such as TikTok and other social media outlets for health information.
This change is part of a public table-turning outrage about the normalization of “fake news.” Gen Z Members of Gen Z are not naïve, they understand that misinformation is present in conservative and liberal media alike. Each headline is reformulated to serve a chosen narrative. This produces a void in which faith in institutions is a luxury good.
Distrust in Traditional News Sources
We’ve heard from a lot of folks in Gen Z who are frustrated with the current state of news. They believe that it is dominated by a small number of corporations, which operate 24-hour news channels that often exhibit political bias.
“The world simply isn’t this way anymore. In fact, it’s several generations removed from that simple scene. Today, what would be considered the more ‘traditional’ news is a handful of corporations with news channels running at full speed, 24 hours a day, and seemingly charged with at least some political leaning.” – Anonymous Source
This consolidation of power leaves countless young consumers feeling disenfranchised. They complain that these media outlets fail to reflect their views or serve their audiences. Because of this, Gen Z members are more driven than ever to look for other sources to fulfill their daily news needs.
The Rise of Misinformation
The saturation of misinformation and bad faith actors in the media environment has sharpened Gen Z’s discernment. Their underlying argument zeroes in on two important points. First, “fake news” is so overused as a general insult to any negative reporting that it has lost all of its potency.
“What has ramped up this issue is twofold: first, the use of ‘fake news’ thrown out to describe anything that is distasteful to leading figures, and repeating it so often the idea of ‘fake news’ began to normalize; and second, the reality that there are outlets on both sides that lean so hard that nearly any news story reported is filled with mis- and dis-information, based on snippets of facts and then spun out to fit a specific narrative.” – Anonymous Source
This acknowledgement inspires young Gen Z to actively seek out objectivity within their news consumption. For one, they rely on social media platforms as a source of entertainment. They’re using these platforms to learn about and find underrepresented voices and narratives.
Preference for Social Media as News Source
For Gen Z, social media as a primary news source is just that: an increasingly accessible, interpersonally engaging medium. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram allow users to engage with content in real-time, fostering a sense of community and dialogue around current events.
For one, social media’s short-form content is often easier for young people to consume than a typical TV news segment. Most importantly, they value the opportunity to express diverse viewpoints, solicit questions, and engage in dialogue. Humanizing their experience on the digital frontier. This engagement is essential to their journey through the online universe.
Gen Z understands that social media is not all good. They love the treasure trove of information it provides from all kinds of sources. They no longer rely on a single national broadcast for their daily news, opting instead for a more multifaceted approach.
