The News is Starting with a Swipe Instead of a Source by Chiya Stonewall

A breaking news alert no longer comes from television. It comes from a swipe. For millions of Americans, history now appears on a ‘For You Page.’ Instead of gathering around the TV, people refresh their phones between breaks. The anchor desk is almost being replaced by a vertical screen. Global events are packaged into small clips designed to go viral. 

The news has changed. According to the Pew Research Center, “1 in 5 Americans now regularly get news on TikTok, up sharply from 2020” (PRC, 2025). Among younger adults, the percentage is even higher, showing a generational shift. Getting news just from a swipe feels easier than turning on the TV. Similarly, reporting from The Guardian found that “54% of Americans said they received news from social media,” with social media platforms on the rise of overtaking television as a primary source of information (The Guardian, 2025). These statistics show how journalism is changing. 

But the rise of “news” coming from social media doesn’t just impact the viewers; it impacts the journalists on our TV screens and behind the pens. Tia Ewing, a FOX Chicago News Anchor shared, “I don’t believe social media will replace journalism, but I do know we need to act fast so we can adapt to this change. I also believe people deserve the truth. There isn’t much of that on social media.” Her perspective shows a major tension in media as audiences love news in real time, but credible reporting cannot always happen in 15 seconds. 

The media increases misinformation. Harvard Law Graduate and City Colleges of Chicago Law professor Philip Criswell also explained how dangerous misinformation is when social media replaces reliable reporting. “If there is a scenario where an individual spreads false news, that can create serious consequences, especially when people make decisions based on information that is not true,” he explained. False information spreading quickly can create confusion and panic.

The goal should not be choosing between television and TikTok, but protecting the truth no matter the platform where anyone can post and call it news. Real journalism matters now more than ever.

Pew Research- https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/09/25/1-in-5-americans-now-regularly-get-news-on-tiktok-up-sharply-from-2020/ 

The Guardian- https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/jun/17/social-media-overtakes-tv-as-main-source-of-news-in-us-analysis-finds