Young people get their news from social media, and it's time traditional newsrooms adapted if they want to engage younger audiences, argues journalism student Becky Chesson.
Date: 12 March
A generation that has never read a newspaper pauses from videos of funny cats to learn what is going on in the world
Like many people in their mid-twenties, I spend an alarming amount of time on my phone, way more than I would care to admit. Not only do I get my daily dose of lifestyle and fashion tips, but TikTok and Instagram have also become my primary source of hard news. Growing up, the six o’clock news played in the background while my parents sat on the sofa eating their dinner. That ritual still exists – just not for me.
My news consumption is constant, fragmented, and all on my mobile. I scroll through multiple stories while waiting for the train, between lectures, or when I should probably be sleeping. News is no longer something I sit down to watch; it is something that slips into the gaps of the day. This shift raises a crucial question: is social media shaping the future of news distribution, or is it merely the last remaining channel to reach younger audiences whose lives revolve around their phones?
Getting news from TikTok feels fundamentally different from watching television bulletins or reading newspapers. It is incidental, fast and personality-driven, shaped by algorithms rather than editors, unlike the intentional, structured approach of traditional media. Much of it comes via creators who break down the day’s biggest stories into short, informal videos designed to fit seamlessly into a scroll. Some do this better than others.
One creator I regularly watch is @mrcodydahler, who opens his videos with the line: “So you hate the news, but you don’t want to look like a thicky thicky dumb dumb in front of your mates.” It is deliberately irreverent, and that is precisely the point. At a time when the news often feels relentless and bleak, which is arguably one reason many younger people avoid it, humour becomes a way in.
The hook matters
My generation is often accused of having short attention spans (the widely quoted figure is eight seconds), and while that statistic might be debatable, the preference for brevity is not. A sharp hook matters. A two-minute explainer feels manageable: a 2,000-word article can feel daunting. TikTok understands this instinctively, which is why a well-crafted opening line can determine whether a story is watched or swiped away.
As a mature student studying fashion marketing and journalism at university, I am surrounded by peers aged 19 and 20. Observing how they consume news has made me aware of the ways generational habits are reshaping not only where young people access news, but how they engage with it – and, crucially, how interested they are in it at all.
TikTok’s rapid rise since 2018, and its acceleration during Covid-19 lockdowns has been particularly influential. Between 2018 and 2022, the app had an average of 340million new users per year, according to Statista. Its endless scroll means that a video about Donald Trump can be followed immediately by one titled Taking our cats to a Christmas market – a tonal whiplash that now feels entirely normal.
A research tool, not just entertainment
Once dismissed as a platform for dance trends and lifestyle content, TikTok increasingly functions as a news source. For many younger users, it is not just a place to encounter headlines, but a starting point for understanding politics, international affairs and social issues. In that sense, it has become a research tool.
A wider trend among younger people
I ran an informal poll on Instagram asking followers how they consume news. The results were indicative of broader trends: a majority reported getting news mainly from social media, with smaller numbers relying on television, radio, newspapers and news websites. A notable minority said they did not actively seek out news at all. These findings align with the 2025 Ofcom News Consumption Report, which shows that three-quarters of young people aged 16-24 use online platforms and social media as their primary source of accessing news.
Conversations with fellow journalism students highlighted a similar trend. Many described social media as more convenient and better suited to daily routines than traditional news outlets. Some found platforms such as TikTok or X more engaging, while others used them as a starting point, verifying elsewhere because of doubts about accuracy.
“I mostly get my news from X or TikTok. Even though I check the news outlets every day, I feel as though social media presents the news in a more engaging, accessible way,” said Ellie Bennett, 21. Another student. Simran Gill, 19, agreed: “It’s easier and more convenient to fit into my day-to-day routine, and doesn’t require me to go out of my way to read actual news articles.” Interviews with non-journalist peers showed that, for many, news consumption is incidental rather than intentional, encountered while scrolling rather than actively sought.
Adaptation, not abandonment
Younger generations might be glued to their phones, but that does not mean they are uninterested in the world around them. Journalism still matters, and reliable information remains essential. In that context, social media’s reach among younger audiences looks less like a problem to be solved and more like a reality to be reckoned with.
For a generation unlikely to return to print newspapers, platforms such as TikTok are now part of the everyday news environment. They offer news organisations a way to remain visible and relevant, providing they can adapt to new formats without abandoning accuracy, context and accountability.
News on social media should always be treated with caution and verified where possible. Even so, it is increasingly where younger audiences first encounter current affairs. Understanding how younger audiences engage with news is central to journalism’s future. Social media might not offer a perfect solution, but when used responsibly, it has the potential to rebuild a relationship between journalism and a generation that still wants to know what is going on – just not at six o’clock, on the sofa, with dinner.
Becky Chesson is a second-year fashion marketing and journalism student at London Metropolitan University.
