Should TikTok Replace Traditional Gatekeepers?

Nicole Cada

Staff Writer

How do most young people receive their news nowadays? Chances are it is by scrolling aimlessly on short form content apps like TikTok or Instagram Reels. The breaking news that used to come from TV newscasters and peer approved journals can now be viewed in minutes, with younger generations turning these news stories into memes before they’ve even hit the Associated Press’s desk. In an interview with The Atlantic, tech podcaster Ed Elson said that “If you’re trying to succeed in media, […] you have to be extremely online,” stating the importance of understanding viral trends to keep the general public’s attention. Additionally, the Pew Research Institute stated in September of 2025 that more than half of adults in the United States who use TikTok receive their news from the app. 

In my view, the rise in influence of TikTok and short form content is not entirely negative. This phenomenon has opened up space for more voices and made information easier and quicker to access on a global scale. However, replacing traditional gatekeepers with algorithm-driven short form content risks oversimplifying serious issues and spreading misinformation, effectively weakening public understanding. 

From a beneficial standpoint, a major appeal of TikTok’s short form content is the digestibility. Rather than reading a lengthy news article with countless statistics, users can quickly learn about world events and social issues. Further, the global reach of Tiktok allows U.S. users to learn about issues firsthand from creators who live in high pressure locations. Creators are reporting without the bias of U.S. news corporations and with direct experience in global affairs because they live in places such as Palestine or Iran. Additionally, brands are using short form content to market their products, creating a new industry for the digital age. A 2024 Forbes article states that “For brands, the shift toward short-form video content offers a golden opportunity to connect with audiences more directly and engagingly.” This new form of marketing may spell the end for traditional advertising and allow the consumer to learn about a brand based on what their algorithm believes will suit them best. 

But the same format that makes TikTok appealing and engaging, also creates problems. Short videos often strip away context and are known to lead to misinformation. A 2023 study from The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign revealed that the spread of misinformation on COVID-19 was heightened by TikTok. PhD student Morgan Lundy discovered that “TikTok users who oppose the COVID-19 vaccine use intentionally coded language” to spread their beliefs, and that the more anti-vaccine posts a user interacts with, the more they are likely to become swept up in an algorithm that reflects this misinformation. Additionally, the nature of short form content on TikTok is that it is addictive and attention grabbing. This means that the creators often prioritize emotion-driven content over accuracy. The Changing Tides writes that “with short-form videos, individuals can find stimulation that is rich in information in short bursts.” These two problems combined often lead to shallow analysis, creating a public that knows more headlines than substance. 

This is why, from my perspective, TikTok should not fully replace traditional media outlets. Journalists and other media professionals still play a pivotal role in verifying facts, context, and potential biases in a way that short form content cannot. While TikTok is likely a useful entry point into discovering important issues, it should not be our primary source of education. 

Overall, people should not confuse social media engagement with understanding complex global and domestic issues. TikTok is changing the environment in which we consume our information. Ultimately, this change can only be positive if it makes people more informed, but it still risks prioritizing speed, or an eye-catching short video over truth and accountability. 

Image courtesy of Getty Images.