Social used to be social. Full of levity and animal memes, thirst traps, and “inside” internet jokes. It was a place to tune out versus truly tune in. Today, social platforms have evolved into interactive media channels—powerful and hyper-influential—encouraging action from users. What’s more, these media channels have substituted other sources for world news.
According to Axios, “A 2023 Pew survey found that one-third of adults under 30 regularly scroll TikTok for news, up 255 percent since 2020.” What was once a means to connect is now where we absorb news and form critical opinions on global issues. Furthermore, there is no “standard” broadcast channel for users of many social platforms, especially on TikTok and Instagram reels. An AI algorithm is curating your For You Page and content based on your own behavior: No two TikTok users will have the same experience.
If we are all having a unique experience, how then can we collectively shape a shared future? With what appears to be an infinite combination of content experiences, narratives, and “news,” how does this impact our society? Do we become more divided, or more united in social subcultures? In the latter, we all exist with a very different set of opinions and beliefs about the world.
What can be done to protect the integrity of social platforms serving as news sources?
A social subculture is a community formed around shared views and opinions. And these pockets of people are growing daily on social platforms. From the more superficial #skintok community to those united around government conspiracies, to the bizarre trend of #tradwives and the movement of content encouraging women to become submissive stay-at-home moms reminding us of a 1950s idealism.
Community is good. Find your tribe. Feel more connected. But along with those who are encouraging other users for good, there are the more twisted and perverse versions, and as the messages are hidden in dopamine-inducing scrolls, the content becomes a subliminal threat to users, especially young users.
There are pros and cons as with anything. One benefit is that TikTok has provided a platform for those to go deeper on subjects, thus creating more engagement among younger generations on serious subjects. It allows marginalized groups to find increased support. It also encourages community around various opinions and interest groups, which in turn promotes debate and conversation creating a profound wave of digital activism. Another benefit is that the content is, for the most part, user-generated, allowing for many viewpoints to be freely expressed versus a carefully curated agenda being put forth.
But is that actually true? Or is the algorithm the new political agenda—one that perhaps can infuse as much, if not more, bias to the viewer as a right- or left-wing news organization? This is why, after all, the US government considers TikTok a national security threat. There is not one answer for what you type into your search on TikTok. There is very little fact on these platforms, but rather regular people sharing their opinions—like a global watercooler for gossip and rumors. And while this may seem fun, and certainly it is entertaining—how does this impact our society at large, and is it helping us or hurting us?
The problem lies in the unpredictability of the algorithm—there are no parental controls that can truly protect the youth from consuming potentially harmful content and/or narratives. Enter AI—who knows how much of the “news” and entertainment is real and how much will be artificially generated? DeepFakes, Sora, and the breakneck acceleration of this tech are making it practically impossible to detect what is real.
According to TikTok’s community guidelines, they require creators to label AI-generated content. But policing this guideline is virtually impossible.
What can be done to protect the integrity of social platforms serving as news sources? Aside from a potential ban on one of our most beloved platforms, this begs the question of censorship and education of what opinion versus fact is.
In summary, I believe this is an ongoing double-edged sword. We have younger generations with much more interest in world issues. This curiosity is a great thing. Misinformation is a dangerous thing.
The onus is on key thought leaders in the world to prioritize education around the risks of misinformation, the mental health risks from overconsumption, and perhaps creating verified accounts/sources. This may be the best we can do to help use this open-source information pool to bring us together versus pull us apart.