Photo by: Camilo Jimenez / Unsplash.com
The effect of social media platforms on news isn’t as innocent as it seems.
TikTok’s global rise started in 2018 after ByteDance, creator of Douyin, bought Musical.ly and expanded it under a new brand. It has rapidly become addictive due to how quickly it identifies what the user likes and brings related content to their For You page. TikTok currently has reached over 1.677 billion users globally.
Users of TikTok can choose from various songs, filters, and even movie clips from their vast database. Even though it may seem innocent, the effects of social media platforms on news consumption are profound and spread throughout society, shaping public opinions and individuals’ perceptions of reality. The seemingly innocent nature of social media platforms belies their influence on how news is spread and interpreted by billions of users worldwide.
The Proliferation of Fake News
One of the biggest issues about news consumption through social media is the presence of false news. Fake news are the online publication of false statements of fact, and they often spread through social media and influence public opinion.
For instance, in North Macedonia, there is a small industry of websites that produce fake news on US politics. One of the most successful posts was about a false claim that Mike Pence said Michelle Obama is the “most vulgar first lady we’ve ever had.” This post generated thousands of shares, reactions, and comments on Facebook.
Another example of fake news on social media is the manipulation of images and videos. Due to the advancement of AI technology, it is now easier to create false content to get people to click and engage. In 2022, during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a video of Volodymyr Zelensky announcing Ukraine’s surrender to Russia was published on social media. The video affected many people negatively until it was found to be fake. Hence, it is very easy to spread misleading information on social media, which can potentially influence our perspective and even our mental health.
Citizen Journalism on TikTok
The emergence of citizen journalism on social media platforms, such as TikTok, has redefined the ways in which news is reported. However, this comes with its own challenges, particularly about misjudging the information and the rise of cancel culture. Citizens who are in a rush to share breaking news or capture attention mostly fail to check the authenticity and accuracy of the information they are publishing. The combination of real-time citizen journalism and the cancel culture places many people under the spotlight, leading to potential mental and financial damages. According to experts, the cancel culture encourages shame instead of accountability.
“It’s amazing how overnight, how dramatically your situation can change over cancel culture,”
For instance, the Asian American content creator Jesse Concepcion was cancelled on social media after an anonymous TikTok account was set up to spread hate towards him. When the account blew up, he received many comments saying he looked like a person who would be a bully or a liar.
In the realm of social media, the merge of citizen journalism with the cancel culture heavily affects individual’s lives. We are often exposed to false news, which creates unjust consequences and leads to misconceptions. The cases presented in this article are some examples of how news consumption on social media could have a potentially dangerous effect on our lives. Hence, it is necessary to think critically and question the legitimacy of the information we receive on social media platforms. It is important to remember that social media platforms and influencers are mostly driven by profit motives instead of truthfulness and social benefit.