If you belong to Gen Z, where do you get your news? My guess is — primarily online. Back in 2018, Nielsen noted that 71 per cent of Malaysian Gen Zs turned to social media for breaking news; that figure is almost certainly higher now, especially with 80 per cent of Malaysians citing online and social media as their main news sources in a 2024 Statista survey.
From digital news portals and community forums to platforms like Reddit and TikTok, there are more avenues than ever to get and cross-check information online — which is a good thing at first glance. However, quantity doesn’t mean quality, so it’s still important to be asking the right questions however you consume your news so that you can be an active and critical (not in terms of criticism, but critical analysis) audience member.
1. When was this news published?
I can’t begin to tell you how often I’ve seen (and been sent) articles and videos that were created years ago but recently resurfaced due to current, tangentially-related events. Timeliness matters because if a piece of news is too old, the content may no longer be relevant, or it be used to manipulate audience sentiment instead of conveying actual information.
To make things worse, Instagram and TikTok videos don’t readily display dates, and some creators make it more confusing by posting #throwback or #latergram videos. You should check the comments and/or descriptions for clues; in TikTok’s case, you can tap the account username and tap on the ‘Just watched’ video to see the posted date.
2. Who published the news?
No piece of news is ever 100 per cent unbiased. It can be biased by the language used, the viewpoints included, and even how the facts are presented. Trained reporters actively try to reduce bias by ensuring they use credible primary sources, inviting expert commentary, and providing a balanced narrative. However, digital media has made it possible for anyone to create and publish news now — and not everyone will uphold these practices.
Look at things like: has the creator proven themselves to be a reliable source of credible information? Do they have affiliations that could affect how they deliver their commentary? For instance, you might expect a reel sponsored by milk producers to highlight the benefits of milk consumption, because why would anyone sponsor content that was detrimental to their goals?
3. Who is providing you with your news?
Social media platforms curate your feed; they learn what you like and tweak the algorithms to show you similar content. Over time, this creates a filter bubble where you get less exposure to alternate views that don’t align with your preferences — which is a problem for balanced news consumption.
For this reason, it’s a good idea to have a variety of sources for your news. Social media is often a first news touchpoint, but people typically go on to verify authenticity with trusted media outlets. You can also leverage your network; for instance, my parents read Chinese newspapers and I don’t, so they may know details that I’m not exposed to. However, if people say "I heard”, make sure to always ask "From where?”
4. Was any digital enhancement used?
Whether it’s using ChatGPT to write articles, Photoshop to change appearances or even deepfake technology to — quite literally — put words in people’s mouths, modern advancements in digital technology have made it very difficult to distinguish fact from fiction these days on social media. How, then, do you decide to trust what is real and what is not?
There are a few ways you can try to check your content. Look for irregularities in images and videos that suggest AI involvement, such as weird body proportions or distorted backgrounds. You can also search for a video online to see if it pops up anywhere else or if it’s been identified as a deepfake. Finally, cross-check with traditional news portals.
Use with caution
By giving everyone the ability to create and broadcast news quickly, social media has proven transformational for situations such as natural disasters and global conflicts. However, it can be a double-edged sword; fake news or ‘disinformation’ has also been ringing alarm bells since the Covid-19 pandemic for its outsized impacts on politics, the economy, and more.
Even with more stringent anti-fake news legislation, sponsorship disclosure laws, and required labelling of AI content, there is only so much that can be done to mitigate misinformation’s effects. The burden of critical consumption now falls more heavily upon the consumer than ever before; questions like these, then, are important because they help you consider what you’re consuming and how/why news might be designed for you.
If used correctly, social media can still be an excellent source of news. Just make sure you’re reading/watching/listening with your eyes, ears, and mind wide open. If nothing else, remember — always check your sources!