Mainstream news outlets are falling out of favor with the youths: With declining public trust in traditional media and the stream of media-related layoffs, “new age” platforms like Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube have emerged as the most current news juggernauts, reshaping how we consume information. Bite-sized updates from creators, such as News Daddy and reports from UnderTheDeskNews seem to be the source of choice for most of the youth, reports Bloomberg.These creators have become influential figures, the above have gathered 10.4 mn on TikTok and 3 mn followers on YouTube each — numbers which surpass the follower count of the New York Times (which stands at 599.4 k on TikTok).

While this cuts many loose from corporate affiliations and questions of bias, there are concerns: Social media companies are skimping on fact-checking and playing loose with moderation, Bloomberg says. Meanwhile, Meta, Twitter, and YouTube rolled back 17 policies geared at reducing hate speech, misinformation and harassment over the course of a year, according to a FreePress report (pdf). Even though social media platforms technically allow creators to reach and speak to viewers of all political factions more equally, users get “hyperpersonalized” feeds — thanks to their choices of which platforms to use, and the careful curation of content that algorithms spew out — meaning they could be continuously exposed to content that creates “fragmented views of the world,” Bloomberg says.

Gen Z scores A+ on activism, diversity, and emotional awareness but a D- on mental health: Using data from 45 countries, a Deloitte Global 2023 Millennial and Gen Z survey found 46% of Gen Z respondents to be anxious or stressed all or most of the time, and a 2023 WHO report details one in five adolescents experiencing a mental disorder as well as suicide being one of the leading causes of death amongst older adolescents.

Digital socialization is a double-edged sword: Spurred by choice and partly due to the pandemic, Gen Z heavily relies on socializing online, a departure from the in-person interactions of previous generations. Interacting with people releases feel-good chemicals, says behavioral neuroscientist Bonnie Nagel, and Gen Z missed out on that during formative years due to covid-19 lockdowns and isolation, reports Axios. Then there is the comparison factor — where the youth begin to compare their achievements, physical appearance, and possessions, which can also lead to feelings of inadequacy and anxiety.

The often uncensored and overactive newscycle isn’t helping either. Gen Z is more anxious about the world, and the media is giving them several reasons to feel this way — regional conflicts, struggling economies, climate change, skyrocketing costs of living, and AI replacing several jobs are always on the back of their minds.

Understanding and supporting Gen Z’s unique challenges is paramount in fostering the upcoming generation. Gen Z are passionate activists, with 70% involved in social or political causes globally. Paired with their diversity, emotional intelligence, and commitment they can be agents for positive change and assets in any industry, according to Axios.

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