MY TOP 5 NEWS/INFO SOURCES
1. TIK TOK
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With TikTok's continually growing popularity and engagement, the app has a wider variety of audiences and creators for many different topics and perspectives. From small businesses to news and sports updates to small academic lessons, TikTok has become just as useful as it is entertaining for many reasons. TikTok has become increasingly more popular since the quarantine of COVID-19, with so many people joining and viewing, it is easy for the word about real-time updates for trending topics and events to spread. Also, with TikTok's limited video time, it is crucial for its users to make their content engaging and attention-grabbing. Many news updates I see on my For You Page are short and relatively engaging enough for me to dive deeper, definitely more than news channels on the TV. Even if the information I receive is not through a real news channel such as CNN or Fox News, it still may be credible. Many influencers and creators present information creatively, using humor, reenactments, and visual effects, allowing me to maintain my engagement. TikTok is also used worldwide, allowing an incredible amount of diverse opinions and perspectives. I know more about the world outside of the United States more than I ever have and I can mostly thank TikTok for that. Although TikTok can be very useful in learning about worldwide current events, it is also easy to fall down a rabbit hole. With TikTok's algorithm personalization, it can curate and feed into biases, based on past data. Which is why it is always important to fact-check.
2. CLASS DISCUSSIONS
Another big source I get my news on current events and the like is during class time. During class, I feel that I can trust my professor to provide accurate and credible information to our class for class discussions. When receiving new information from a professor, I feel invited and welcome to interact and engage with my classmates, allowing me to easier understand and retain the information. Usually, when information is shared in my classes, it is then analyzed by our class, which forces me to critically think from new perspectives and practice collaborative learning by engaging with my class. It also allows me to continually be exposed to news about current events and more. Classes, especially Media Law & Literacy, that provide and include new information, usually also provide case studies, articles, or books that can dive deeper if I am interested. Classes at my school are always a very good way to obtain bias-free information.
3. INSTAGRAM
Alongside TikTok, I receive a lot of real-time information and news updates through my Instagram app for many of the same reasons. With Instagram's visual content effects, creators on Instagram create news updates in many engaging formats from photos, infographics, or short videos, the app helps make complex topics easier to understand. Although Instagram and TikTok have similar algorithm personalization features, unless one manually filters their following to one type of perspective, Instagram is much easier to provide diverse perspectives and sources. Yet, it is still always important to check to credibility of these sources to avoid misinformation. Again, much like TikTok, real-time updates is very easy with Instagram. Instagram provides access to news and stories from all over the world, often highlighting issues and events that may not be covered by mainstream outlets like news channels. As TikTok is mostly young-ish viewers, Instagram has a wider range of people in regards to age. Making it very popular with famous credible news outlets such as BBC, The New York Times, and more.
4. GOOGLE
Stating the obvious, Google is an extremely powerful platform for accessing news and information due to its versatility. Google provides stories from thousands of reputable sources, offering a wide range of perspectives and updates on current events, in one place. Google also has advanced search options - such as allowing you to filter by date, region, types of sources, etc. - which makes researching and finding general and specific news/information very easy. Google also holds all types of media content, from articles, videos, podcasts, books, images, TV shows, and more. It also provides access to international news outlets, which helps inform viewers of worldwide current events, as well as local current events. Google is also free and accessible on many different devices, making it very accessible to use at any time, in any place. Unlike TikTok and Instagram, user personalization is different with Google. Regardless of one's search history or past data, whatever is desired to research is accessible if prompted. Although Google is an excellent news source
5. NEWS CHANNELS (FOX, CNN, ETC.)
https://www.foxnews.com/ , www.cnn.com
CNN and Fox News are both valuable sources of political information, especially when used together. Because they represent different viewpoints, approaches, and perspectives to news coverage, it is easy to avoid biases. I base many of my political views and perspectives based on the facts I have received from both platforms, I like to have a balanced perspective and challenge bias. CNN and Fox News both frame political stories differently, so by consuming both, it provides a better understanding of the issue at hand. This forces me to expose myself to contrasting views and perspectives, which then forces me to critically analyze a situation and lead with an opinion that is crafted by my own moral values, while also balancing perspectives and understanding all sides. When using these news channels together, they cover a very wide range of real-world topics. While I do use both networks, I will always be sure to consume in a non-biased and reputable source before discussing with other perspectives.
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