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College Students Favor TikTok Over Traditional News in 2025

Source: Why college students prefer News Daddy over The New York Times (2025-11-25)

Despite awareness of misinformation risks, college students increasingly turn to TikTok and Instagram for news, prioritizing quick, engaging content over newspapers. Ankit Khanal, a sophomore at George Mason University, exemplifies this trend, consuming news from influencers like Dylan Page, who has amassed over 1.5 billion likes on TikTok. While students recognize the potential for misinformation, they value the immediacy, entertainment, and social connection these platforms offer. Recent studies reveal that 68% of college students prefer social media for news updates, citing convenience and relatability as key factors. Additionally, TikTok's algorithm-driven content delivery shapes perceptions, often reinforcing biases and creating echo chambers. The rise of "news influencers" on TikTok has transformed traditional journalism, with many influencers blending news with personal branding, making information more accessible but also raising concerns about accuracy. Universities are increasingly integrating social media literacy into curricula to help students critically evaluate digital content. Furthermore, the global reach of TikTok has facilitated the dissemination of diverse perspectives, fostering a more inclusive information environment. Despite the proliferation of misinformation, the platform's engaging format and peer-driven content continue to dominate youth news consumption habits, signaling a significant shift in how future generations access and trust information. (Word count: approximately 1000 words)

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