Using TikTok as a news source? Here are 3 ways to identify misinformation

According to this year's Digital News Report from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, 20% of 18 to 20-year-olds are using TikTok as their main news source, a 5% increase from last year. 

Also: TikTok bans explained: Everything you need to know

Print journalism has declined in popularity for decades, as people can access news from any electronic device, usually for free, on social media. But the Digital News Report shows that as TV and print journalism markets are shrinking, digital media is not filling the gap.

On TikTok, people are more interested in celebrities, influencers, and social media personalities delivering the news, as opposed to journalists. But in general, people are increasingly disinterested in the news, citing distrust in the media, distrust in social media algorithms, and a desire to avoid catastrophic news stories.

TikTok users prefer citizen journalism (44%) to mainstream news outlets or professional journalists (33%). Citizen journalism occurs when public citizens collect information about a news event and deliver it to the public.

It's been increasingly popular during the Russia-Ukraine war, as soldiers post video footage and diaries from the battlefield and upload it to TikTok. Citizen journalism on TikTok gives some people the sense that someone who is experiencing an event first-hand will accurately report on it and include details that mainstream journalists would omit.

Also: How to get a Twitter blue checkmark (and other minor features)

But experts warn that citizen journalism on short-video platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram can easily mix information with disinformation, creating a confusing blend of fact and fiction.

According to a NewsGuard investigation, almost 20% of videos covering pressing world news topics contained misinformation. These topics ranged from COVID vaccines and gun violence to the Russia-Ukraine war and U.S. elections.

Also: Hundreds of Reddit communities remain dark indefinitely

Photoshop, AI-powered deepfakes, and very convincing figureheads can all contribute to the spread of misinformation on short-form video platforms. 

It can be very difficult and time-consuming to fact-check and reverse image search every photo and video you see on TikTok to ensure the information is accurate, so here are some tips to consider.

Tips to avoid misinformation on TikTok