Gen Z is getting their news on TikTok and journalists are building a following as influencers on the app. YPulse found that 51% of Gen Z finds their news on TikTok (compared to 26% of Millennials), and news personalities are using the short-form video app to deliver digestible news to young people. When Marcus DiPaola first took to TikTok to give live updates during the 2020 Presidential Election, his following—and TikTok journalism career—took off after his video received 200,000 likes. He now has 2.5 million followers on the app and has been using TikTok to broadcast events in a way that makes understanding the news easy and accessible for young consumers. Other personalities who have worked for major news companies say the app has made it incredibly easy to mimic a broadcasting studio and discuss anything from breaking legislative updates to LGBTQ news and events. These news storytellers aren’t just building a following for themselves as they continue to work from home, they’re using their voice to educate young people on issues they care about. (The Washington Post)
