Regulation must assure credible online news
I am a junior at Mundelein High School. After reflecting on the election, I’ve noticed that platforms like TikTok have become primary sources of news for many young voters. Whether this is good or bad is up for debate. Personally, I believe it has had a mostly negative impact.
While it has educated some Gen Z voters, you simply cannot rely on social media to provide the full picture
I think this is the core issue: a significant portion of us relies heavily on platforms like TikTok for political news. According to a Pew Research survey by Colleen McClain, half of respondents aged 18–29 use TikTok to stay informed about politics and news. This highlights just how much Gen Z depends on TikTok, even though the information appearing on their “For You” pages is not always fact-checked.
This reliance often leads to the spread of misinformation, whether it comes from influencers or random videos on your “For You” page
This is especially concerning during an election, as misinformation has the potential to undermine candidates and the democratic process. With discussions about a possible TikTok ban pending, could we instead consider regulating the platform’s news content? Implementing measures to ensure accuracy would protect Gen Z’s access to credible news in the future. If we are going to continue spending so much time on the app, it’s essential that the information we consume is reliable.
Joanna Landa
Mundelein