These stories are increasingly common. They are the reason dozens of lawsuits, investigations, and public health warnings have converged on a troubling conclusion: social media companies have built platforms deliberately designed to capture and hold the attention of young users at any cost, to maximize profit.

Engineered for attention, but at what cost?

Features such as likes, notifications, and algorithmic feeds create feedback loops that keep users coming back. They deliver small bursts of social validation that can make it difficult, especially for younger users, to step away. As Sean Parker, Facebook co-founder, famously acknowledged, these platforms were engineered to provide users with “a little dopamine hit every once in a while” so they keep coming back.

For teenagers whose brains and social identities are still developing, these design choices can have profound consequences. Studies increasingly link heavy social media use among adolescents to anxiety, depression, and body image concerns. Filters, curated images, and constant comparisons can intensify feelings of inadequacy, while endless scrolling and late-night notifications disrupt sleep and emotional well-being. Many of these lawsuits allege Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, had the most knowledge of these impacts but chose to suppress it. That’s one of the reasons it’s why courtroom arguments create a compelling comparison to big tobacco.

Lawmakers need to act, and to get social media regulation right

It’s no surprise lawmakers are looking for ways to respond. Across the country, proposals in California, Texas, Utah and Alabama like the Age Appropriate Design Code and the App Store Accountability Act aim to address harms to children online. While the motivation is understandable, many of these bills cast too wide a net and as a result, risk creating new problems while trying to solve existing ones.

Instead of narrowly targeting the design features and business models driving these harms, they often sweep in the broader digital ecosystem. Thus the regulation doesn’t just impact social media platforms, but also news organizations, educational services, and nonprofits. That raises serious First Amendment concerns. Laws that affect speech must be narrowly tailored, and courts have already shown skepticism toward broad, vague attempts to regulate online content.

Measures that require broad content restrictions or impose vague compliance obligations on publishers are also particularly vulnerable to legal challenges. And, if struck down, these efforts could further delay meaningful progress in addressing the real harms associated with social media.

A complex ecosystem requires precise solutions

There’s a better path: Instead of regulating the entire internet, lawmakers should focus their attention on large social media platforms whose business models depend heavily on algorithmic amplification of user-generated content. These companies derive enormous revenue from engagement-driven advertising models that reward keeping users on their platforms for as long as possible.

Policies aimed at limiting manipulative design features for minors, increasing transparency around algorithms, and establishing reasonable duties of care could address these issues without sweeping in good faith actors.

Congress has already begun exploring this more targeted approach. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which has attracted overwhelming bipartisan support, focuses specifically on platforms that rely predominantly on user-generated content and algorithmic recommendation systems. By concentrating on the companies whose products create the greatest risks for young users, KOSA offers a more precise model for addressing online safety concerns.

Overbroad regulation and unintended consequences

That narrower focus is critical not only for constitutional durability but also for avoiding unintended consequences.

If new legislation imposes sweeping compliance obligations—such as complex age verification systems, extensive data governance requirements, or new liability frameworks—many news organizations could struggle to meet them. Smaller publishers in particular lack the legal and technical resources required to implement costly regulatory regimes designed with massive social media companies in mind.

Possibly even more troubling, some proposals could inadvertently restrict teenagers’ access to credible, fact-checked journalism. If platforms respond to regulatory risk by broadly limiting content for minors, young people could find themselves cut off from some of the most reliable sources of information available online. Teenagers (and everyone else) need more access to reliable journalism from publishers who take responsibility for it. Policies designed to protect young people should not inadvertently make it harder for them to find credible reporting.

Mounting evidence of social media’s impact on youth mental health demands a serious policy response. But effective regulation must be precise. Broad, legislation may seem decisive, but it risks violating constitutional protections, burdening responsible publishers, and limiting access to reliable information.

A more focused approach that targets the design practices and business incentives of the largest platforms offers a better path forward. It should hold the most powerful platforms accountable for the environment they create and the choices they make about how young users interact with their services. If policymakers maintain that focus, they can address a generational public health challenge while preserving an open and diverse online ecosystem.

The post Social media laws should focus on social media appeared first on Digital Content Next.

Radicalization in politics is not new. But today, it is amplified, monetized, and normalized through the very platforms where our public discourse now lives. It feels more commonplace today than at any point in American history. That’s not necessarily because it happens more often, but because it’s more visible, more immediate, and more inescapable in an era of social media and live-streamed video and audio. We’re seeing and hearing things we might never have been exposed to in the past. 

Algorithmic amplification and indefensible immunity 

This is no accident. Social media algorithms are explicitly designed to maximize user engagement—not accuracy, civility, or truth. The most inflammatory content is rewarded with amplification, regardless of whether it’s true, defamatory, or dangerous. This creates a system where extremism is not just tolerated but incentivized. The result is an environment that’s not just toxic — it’s legally unaccountable. 

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act was originally intended to protect online platforms from liability for user posts. But today, it provides near-total immunity to the largest tech companies—even when their own algorithms actively promote harmful, illegal, or even deadly content.  

For example, in Gonzalez v. Google, the family of a U.S. citizen killed in a Paris terrorist attack argued that YouTube’s algorithm actively recommended ISIS content. And yet, courts shielded Google from liability under Section 230. When a multibillion-dollar company can engineer its systems in a way that results in the promotion of extremist propaganda and then disclaim all responsibility, we must ask: What is the purpose of a liability shield that protects this behavior? 

Section 230 protections have shielded platforms from accountability even in tragic and preventable cases: 

• In Doe v. MySpace, courts dismissed the claims of families whose children were sexually exploited, ruling that platforms aren’t responsible for foreseeable harm arising from user interactions. 

• In Doe v. Snap Inc., parents whose children died from fentanyl-laced drugs bought via Snapchat were similarly blocked from pursuing legal remedies—even though Snapchat’s disappearing message design arguably enabled the illegal activity. 

Consequential design decisions without legal consequences 

These are not edge cases. They reveal a systemic failure: social media companies face no consequences for design choices that would be unacceptable for other types of companies. Section 230 has become a legal firewall for product decisions that would not pass muster in any other industry.  

Congress has an urgent responsibility to reform this law. At minimum, companies should be required to: 

• Take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm enabled by their platforms, 

• Be transparent about how algorithms influence outcomes, 

• Be held liable when platform features contribute to illegal activity. 

Tech companies argue that any effort to place guardrails on social media amounts to censorship. In reality, they are protecting their bottom line. Reform would threaten the low-cost, high-profit business model that relies on unfettered data extraction and behavioral manipulation. 

In every other industry, companies are held accountable for the products they design—especially when harm to children is involved.  

News organizations are held to account for what they publish—often in court. Whether it’s a private citizen or a powerful public figure, individuals have legal recourse when they believe they’ve been wronged by the press. Consider the high-profile case of Hulk Hogan, who sued Gawker Media for invasion of privacy and won $140 million in damages—a verdict that ultimately forced the company into bankruptcy. That case underscores a fundamental principle: when media companies cause harm, they can be held liable. 

In other industries, many major companies have been held liable for selling defective or unsafe products that led to the deaths of children, resulting in multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements. IKEA settled for $46 million over dressers that tipped over; Fisher-Price paid a $13 million penalty and undisclosed settlement amounts and was forced to recall Rock ‘n Play sleepers tied to over 100 infant deaths, and; Evenflo is currently facing multiple lawsuits and investigations for marketing “safe” booster seats even though they allegedly had internal data showing a high risk of injury or death.  

It is outrageous that parents who have lost a child to suicide because of social media algorithms don’t have the same opportunity for justice. 

Considering the corrosive impact of online extremism, we must expect more—from platforms, from policymakers, and from ourselves. The best way to restore a healthier political discourse, a safer digital environment—and a safer world—is to make social media companies legally responsible for the products they design and the harm those products cause. This is not a debate about censorship. It’s about accountability. If your business model profits from harvesting Americans’ most personal data, you must also bear responsibility when that model causes real-world harm. 

The post Accountability is not censorship  appeared first on Digital Content Next.

New Pew research, Bluesky has caught on with many news influencers, but X remains popular, along with three independent academic studies, sheds light on how news influencers are navigating the shifting social landscape. The findings highlight a post-election surge in Bluesky’s popularity and underscore key design features that make the platform appealing.

Post-election Bluesky surge

According to Pew’s report, Bluesky’s use among news influencers nearly doubled in the four months following the 2024 presidential election, from 21% in November 2024 to 43% by March 2025. This growth was most prominent among politically left-leaning influencers.

News influencers on Bluesky are posting more now than they did at the start of the year with post volume rising from 54% in January 2025 to 66% in March 2025. X remains popular but shows a dip in activity from 92% of news influencers post in January 2025 to 87% in March 2025. It’s important to note that most news influencers on Bluesky are also on X and post there frequently.

Yet, despite Bluesky’s rising influence, X remains the top platform for reaching broad news audiences across the political spectrum.

Pew attributes Bluesky’s growth to its decentralized architecture, customizable algorithmic feeds, and emphasis on user-driven moderation. These features appeal to news influencers who feel constrained by X’s centralized and often controversial environment.

Independent academic research supports Pew’s conclusions. A study led by Gianluca Nogara and others, A Longitudinal Analysis of Misinformation, Polarization, and Censorship on Bluesky, finds that Bluesky maintains relatively low toxicity levels. It attracts a mostly left-leaning influencer base and scores high credibility in news content. The study also shows that Bluesky’s structure helps limit the spread of misinformation and encourages healthier discourse.

Another study from researchers at TU Darmstadt, Looking at the Blue Skies of Bluesky, further validates the findings here. While Bluesky shares structural similarities with other social networks, it provides distinct features, transparent algorithmic feeds, decentralized governance, and a strong emphasis on moderation. These elements, the researchers argue, drive Bluesky’s appeal among news professionals and digital creators.

Together, these studies present a consistent narrative. Bluesky’s focus on transparency, user control, and credible information resonates with today’s journalists, who want safer, more meaningful ways to engage with their audiences.

Although Bluesky is gaining traction, Pew’s latest data shows that X is holding on to its place as the go-to platform for news influencers. As of 2025, 82% of U.S. news influencers have an account on X, reinforcing its position as the leading channel for reaching wide and diverse audiences. This trend is echoed in research by Dorian Quelle and Alexandre Bovet, whose study Network Topology and Community Structure of the Decentralized Social Network Bluesky finds that while Bluesky supports tight-knit, topic-specific communities, X remains centerl stage for mainstream news and public discourse.

Leading social platform for news distribution

For many influencers and the media companies that work with them, X’s network effects, reach, and familiarity still deliver unmatched value for news distribution.

Pew’s broader findings reveal a growing appetite for news delivered by influencers across platforms:

• 21% of U.S. adults now say they regularly get news from social media influencers
• Among adults under 30, that figure rises to 37%
• 65% of these news consumers report that influencers improve their understanding of current events
• 71% believe that the news they receive from influencers differs meaningfully from traditional sources (Pew Research Center)

These research reports suggest that Bluesky’s rise signals a shift among news influencers seeking greater control, transparency, and healthier online interactions. While X remains dominant for broad news distribution, Bluesky’s appeal highlights the growing demand for alternative platforms particularly to distribute and engage with news.

The post Bluesky’s rise signals a social media shift for news influencers appeared first on Digital Content Next.

The world of news is changing – and the pace of transformation isn’t slowing anytime soon. As social media commands ever-increasing attention and content creators continue to gain traction, it’s no surprise that audiences are switching from broadcast news or reading an article to hearing a 30-second news synopsis on TikTok. In fact, companies like Influencer Journalism are already actively working to connect legacy media with influencers, while others like NBCUniversal have announced mobile-first news initiatives.

To keep up with evolving preferences, it’s vital that legacy media adapts, and news executives remain tuned into to audience expectations. That means learning from those who have found success from social media. News influencers, who are content creators that post about current events and happenings, are already popular with young audiences. And their preferences will undoubtedly shape the future of news.

Here are five tips from three successful, TikTok news influencers that media organizations can learn from, and put to work, as they build their audience growth strategies.

1. More fun, less complicated

News influencer @SmallTownIndiana, 48, who is located in Indianapolis – and refrains from using his real name to protect his privacy – has garnered about 179,500 followers on TikTok. He posts videos about local happenings and breaking news in Indiana.

He says that when it comes to viewer engagement, legacy media should focus on being a little less serious and a lot more comprehensible.

In fact, SmallTownIndiana says that after the January TikTok ban, his news stories no longer perform best on his account; it’s those like his series about finding the state’s best pork tenderloin sandwich that do better. The serious news topic that does perform is related to the high-profile Delphi murders, involving two teenage girls, which he also has a series about. Videos related to both of these topics have garnered over 100,000 views.

Although incorporating fun isn’t possible for every news story, especially those that are sensitive, it is important to balance serious topics with lighter ones, or perhaps create social content that is centered on lighter material or approaches. And for almost any topic, simplifying subjects and making them accessible will help engage broader audiences.

2. Short form news delivery

Another point that SmallTownIndiana cited was that traditional media organizations have the tendency to give people information in large doses and deep dives. For example, broadcast news requires people to sit through a 30-minute to one-hour long newscast to see what they are interested in. Yet, many news consumers want their information delivered conveniently and quickly.

“TikTok, to me, it has landed at a time where people are always on the go,” he said.

SmallTownIndiana said that his TikTok page gets a lot of traction because he relays information about what’s happening in his city or state in less than two minutes. As a result, he said, many viewers have told him that they come to his page first if a newsworthy event is happening. This is evident in his view count, which consistently sits in the thousands range.

His big takeaway is to think about ways in which audiences can find what they are interested in easily and consume it in a quick, easily digestible way.

3. Prioritize authenticity

Twenty-seven-year-old news influencer @_imjustzander, who has nearly 224,000 followers on TikTok, advises legacy media to appeal to Generation Z and Millennials in a respectful, yet authentic way. “People are smart, especially Gen Z,” said Zander (who prefers to use only his first name for privacy reasons). “They know when companies are trying too hard.”

Zander, who is located in Georgia, has been creating content since 2020 and makes videos primarily focused on political and global news. His experience growing an audience has shown him that authenticity is key.

His videos are quick-hitting and timely. He posts about six to eight times a day, while working a full-time job. He says his legal background has helped him succeed when talking to an audience on social media – and that news companies need to hone their communication style to resonate with their values, especially in the digital age.

“The pendulum is always swinging when it comes to social media,” he said. “And right now the pendulum has swung to where people just crave authenticity. People are so done with influencers; people are so done with just all of this over-professionalism.”

For legacy media, Zander believes that means leaning less into trends, which come and go quickly. Instead, they should focus on topics that are important to younger generations and do so in a way that respects their perspective.

4. Allow reporters to be real people

Fortesa Laitifi – @hifortesa – is a 31-year-old Los Angeles based news influencer who posts videos about politics, abortion rights, and the lives of child influencers. Given her background in journalism, which she received a master’s degree in, and her success in garnering an audience of about 42,500 followers on TikTok, she advises legacy media to have their reporters post on social media.

“Legacy media needs to meet people where they are,” said Latifi. “Either you want people to consume your stories or you don’t.” And to do that, they need to be present on social media not hidden behind a masthead.

Latifi cited The New York Times as an example, as the publication has seen success on TikTok and received hundreds of thousands of views by having its reporters explain their stories.

Another way for legacy media to accomplish this, she said, could be by having a designated TikTok person who posts videos. Dave Jorgenson from The Washington Post was one of the first and remains one of the best. With his presence on TikTok, the newspaper has amassed 1.8 million followers. “That really changed the way people think about TikTok and news,” she said.

Beyond simply building a younger audience, Latifi says that misinformation is an important reason journalists need to be on TikTok. In a time where it is easy for fake news to run rampant, she points out that is crucial for people to have reliable sources of news, no matter where they consume it.

5. Consistency is key

Given the impact of algorithms and virality, an important component is posting consistently on social media. According to Latifi, it is crucial to spend a lot of time on TikTok to get to know the platform and figure out which videos perform well.

As with other social platforms, posting consistently is essential to build a relationship with an audience and build a habit, where they are looking for the content on a regular basis. It is also critical to engage and learn from comments to cater to audience needs.

“People might think it’s a lot of effort and it is a lot of effort, but young people, we know from the data, are getting their news from places like TikTok, from places like Instagram,” she said.

Additionally, finding a niche or area of expertise can be beneficial. Latifi, for example, gets tagged in videos related to family vlogging because of her content about them, which receive thousands of views.

Ultimately, she says, it’s in the hands of legacy media to meet their audiences where they are. “We can grunt and groan about how the kids aren’t reading newspapers, or whatever. The important thing is that they do want to hear the news,” said Latifi.

See the big picture

News in this era is a delicate balance of finding new ways to attract audiences while also staying true to impartiality and delivering truthful, fact-based information. While social media connections are heavily reliant on authenticity and being personable, traditional journalists must simultaneously focus on maintaining professionalism and accuracy in their reporting.

Despite changes in news consumption habits, long-form content is still going strong, given its ability to tell in-depth, meaningful stories. But that doesn’t mean that short-form content shouldn’t be leveraged as a means of getting people there.

The post 5 TikTok tips from news influencers for the media appeared first on Digital Content Next.

While the Life in Media Survey does find negative correlations between certain online activities and their emotional health, it also makes some surprising discoveries. For example, contrary to the idea that smartphones lead to isolation, they find that smartphone owners tend to spend more time with friends in person than those without phones. However, for ethical media companies – who care about the audiences they serve – it is important to consider how best to optimize digital experiences to support young teens’ wellbeing.

The Life in Media Survey, a collaboration between the University of South Florida and The Harris Poll, explores digital media use and well-being among those aged 11-13. Although numerous researchers, educators, parents, and policymakers have advocated for reducing digital media usage among children, the USF study shows an increasing level of connectivity. A significant 78% of all participants possess their own smartphone, with 72% of 11-year-olds included in this group; additionally, 56% have their own tablet. 

Kids estimated that they spend an average of 4.4 hours on their smartphone and/or tablet on schooldays, 6.3 hours on non-schooldays. And for some of these kids, smartphones are disruptive given that 20% of kids reported that push notifications on their smartphones and other devices are always on. 

Social media, gaming and cyberbullying  

The study also shows that children who game daily or frequently use social media spend more time connecting online with friends. However, these connections can have negative effects. For example, cyberbullied kids spend more time online, potentially exposing them to harmful environments, which can exacerbate emotional distress. Balancing the benefits of technology with its risks remains a central challenge in shaping healthy digital environments for the next generation.  

The survey uncovers a link between cyberbullying and engagement with social media influencers. Cyberbullied kids are more likely to interact with influencers—whether by sending money, messaging them, or purchasing endorsed products. This interaction suggests that some bullied children may turn to influencers for emotional support or validation, using them as an escape from online bullying in other spaces. 

What kids think of technology’s impact 

While there are concerns about technology’s impact on children, many kids still express enjoyment in using digital devices, particularly social media. Around 74% of kids enjoy social media, whether they experience bullying online or not. However, the emotional impact of technology is more complicated. Cyberbullied kids are more likely to feel that technology interferes with their daily lives. This highlights the need for platforms to ensure a safer online environment for young audiences. 

One in three kids agreed with the statement “Social media causes more harm than good,” and about the same proportion disagreed with that statement (34% and 33%, respectively). Three in 10 kids (29%) say that they believe that A.I. causes more harm than good, and respondents were slightly more likely to agree with the statement if they’d previously used A.I. tools (32% vs. 28%). 

What young audiences are doing online

Streaming platforms are also a significant part of children’s media consumption. Three out of four children use Netflix and Disney+ (77% and 73%, respectively), while half or more use Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Spotify (68%, 56%, and 52%, respectively).  

When asked to list their most-used platform, more respondents selected YouTube than any other program, followed closely by TikTok (17% and 15%, respectively). Entertainment tops the favorite genres of online videos, with gaming listed by 35% of respondents, followed by music and comedy (29% and 23%, respectively, based on selecting up to two favorite genres). 

The research findings show that users spend almost four hours a day on their most-used app. Those who favor Netflix report using the app for an average of 4.0 hours a day, which is slightly higher than the average 3.6 hours reported by those who prefer YouTube, Roblox, and Instagram. The slight bump might be due to the longer-form content on Netflix. TikTok use averaged slightly lower, at 3.2 hours a day. 

The “more-and-more” phenomenon 

The data here points to a “more-and-more” trend, where kids who engage in one type of media activity, such as gaming or social media, are more likely to binge on another media activity. This phenomenon underscores the need to create content that spans multiple platforms. By doing so, they can capture and hold the attention of young audiences more effectively. 

The Life in Media Survey provides valuable insights into how digital media shapes young adolescents’ lives. While technology fosters connection and entertainment, it also brings risks related to cyberbullying, excessive screen time, and emotional well-being. For the media industry, this means developing content that engages young viewers and supports their mental health. By prioritizing positive and age-appropriate media experiences, the industry can help mitigate these risks while embracing digital media opportunities. 

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To gain a better understanding of how traffic declines are affecting them and the steps they’re taking to address challenges, Arc XP partnered with Digiday to survey 115 publishers for the report The state of publisher traffic: Framing the evolution and impact of search and referral in 2024. We asked about the referral traffic trends they’re seeing, how those trends have impacted their revenue, and the steps they’re taking to either rebuild their traffic or find other ways to reach and grow their audience.

In this article, we’ll focus specifically on what we heard from publishers about their referral traffic from social media platforms (like Facebook and TikTok), news aggregators (like Apple News), and other third-party platforms (like Reddit).

Publisher referral traffic trends in 2023

Referral traffic is an important revenue driver for publishers, with 98% of survey respondents saying that referral traffic has a moderate or very significant impact on their annual revenue. But 2023 proved to be a challenging year for publisher referral traffic, with most survey respondents saying they experienced a 1% to 20% decline.

The publishers in our survey experienced traffic declines across the major social media channels. Respondents named Facebook as a channel where they expect continued declines (82%), followed by YouTube (67%) and TikTok (57%). Given Meta’s announcement that it will de-prioritize news content on its platforms, the decline in referral traffic from Facebook is not surprising. And across all social platforms, opaque changes to algorithms have made it difficult for publisher content to stand out among the vast array of options presented to users.

According to survey respondents, the primary ways referral traffic decline impacts their revenue are decreased advertising ROI (63%) and changes in collaborations with brands, influencers, or other publications (54%). They also cited a change in competitive positioning, change in quality of audience, and a decline in social media engagement (each named by 43% of respondents).

How publishers are responding to referral declines

When asked what challenges they face around responding to the trend of declines in referral traffic, 54% of respondents named building/maintaining strong relationships with external platforms as a challenge. This was followed by adapting to social media trends (52% of respondents). Accurately pinpointing referral sources (49%) and constantly changing algorithms and updates (46%) were also top challenges.

Despite these challenges, the publishers we surveyed are forging ahead with tactics to combat referral traffic decline, including experimenting with new forms of video content and increasing their presence across social channels. 81% of respondents said they are experimenting with live streams and long-form video content, and 70% said they are focusing on short-form original vertical video for TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram.

Long-form video content will ultimately offer publishers more control over monetization options than short-form videos created specifically for social channels. With long-form videos, publishers can incorporate in-depth reporting that sets them apart from other content sources and encourages deeper reader engagement and return visits.

The “pivot to video” isn’t new for publishers. Unfortunately, they’ve been burned before by making big bets on video content that didn’t pan out. This time around, publishers need to think carefully about what they want to accomplish with their video strategy: is it about getting advertising revenue from the videos? Driving readers from other channels to their website? Or creating longer-term audience relationships?

Surprisingly, only 56% of respondents said they are increasing direct-traffic efforts (newsletters, owned podcasts, etc.). Given the inherent unpredictability of social platforms, all publishers would benefit from thinking about how they can build more direct connections with their readers.

Publisher referral traffic expectations for 2024

When publishers look ahead to 2024, they are optimistic that referral traffic will rebound. Most of the publishers we surveyed expect referral traffic to increase by 1% to 20% this year, a trend that will likely driven by newsworthy events like the summer Olympics and the U.S. presidential election.

Publishers’ cautious optimism about 2024 might also reflect confidence in the tactics they’re implementing to combat referral traffic declines. But with platform changes and user behavior shifts it’s likely that referral traffic will never fully rebound to previous levels. Publishers will need to continue exploring ways to boost traffic across all channels, including owned channels that enable direct connections with readers.

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The media embraces new technologies

A persistent theme in the ADL report is the need to employ new technologies to improve operations, engage new audiences, and customize experiences.

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) continue to transform the media landscape, helping to automate manual processes, personalize content and experiences, and enable data-driven decision-making to power industry growth. However, for all its utility and potential, AI is a powder keg of potentially explosive issues, as seen during the WGA strikes (which resulted in greater protections and compensation for writers). The ADL report maintains that early adopters will benefit from AI innovations, even as the regulatory and ethical landscape around AI continues to evolve.

• VR and AR add dimension to immersive experiences for customers and will increasingly merge with other new technologies in the development of cutting-edge user experiences.

• Cloud computing facilitates agility and reduces costs. Cloud gaming continues to expand globally, driven in part by immersive experience.

• Big data and analytics should be wisely employed to discover customer preferences and behavior and inform industry decision-making.

• Social media continues to be vital to the overall media industry, with huge capacity to engage audiences, build brand awareness, and boost content discovery. Platforms such as Twitch, Reddit, Discord, and TikTok are enticing content creators with AI tools that facilitate video and music editing, while also developing tools to label AI-generated content.

Audio is a big opportunity

Perhaps it’s a sign of multitasking culture, but the public’s appetite for music, podcasts, and audiobooks has remained robust and is forecast to remain strong.

• Music streaming saw almost double-digit growth globally during the pandemic, and that growth is forecast to continue at a somewhat slower but still steady rate. The U.S. was the main driver, contributing about 40% of the growth in the global music streaming market in 2024. Spotify continues to dominate as a platform. Most streaming services increased consumer prices in 2023 but also expanded options such as audiobooks and podcasts.

• Podcasts are still climbing in popularity and attracting advertisers. A significant portion of the public are tuning in to news podcasts, especially in the U.S. 19% of U.S. residents surveyed have tuned into a news podcast in the last month, compared to an average of 12% globally. Sweden is just behind the U.S. in news podcast use at 17%, with the UK lagging at only 8%, according to the ADL study.

• Audiobooks continue in popularity overall and will benefit from a boom in education publishing (which is expected to achieve double-digit growth between 2020 to 2025), and in self-publishing. Spotify has moved into the audiobooks business, offering 15 free hours of audiobook listening to paid subscribers in the U.S., UK, and Australia.

Traditional news vs. the “creator” economy

Creator culture and the resulting creator economy have grown, and AI tools are making even it easier for individuals to create and edit content. Brands are recognizing the power of influencer marketing and giving creators more leeway to put forth fresh, albeit less polished, content.

A flipside of the enthusiasm for interactivity and user creation is declining interest in newsprint and linear television. Younger generations are driving this change. In the UK, only people aged 55 and older cited television as their primary source of news (42%). Those under age 45 showed a strong preference for online sites and apps as news sources, followed by social media. People under 25 relied on social media above all, with 41% of people in that age group citing it as their main source of news, according to the survey.

A concerning aspect of this trend is the lack of regulation, which makes misinformation much easier to launch and spread. Print news struggles to compete with free but often less reliable digital news platforms. Only a small minority of all age groups (ranging from 6% of people 55+ to 0% of those 45-54) in the ADL’s UK survey cited print as their primary source of news. Bundling and partnerships may be one path to combine more traditional linear media sources with more fluid and creator-friendly platforms.

Recommendations for media companies

In addition to the key theme of embracing and leveraging new technologies, the report’s authors offer a few more recommendations.

• Forge strategic partnerships to reach new audiences, pool resources, and share expertise.
• Balance user privacy with data-driven decision-making.
• Invest in customer relationships, using new technologies to better understand and communicate with users and tailor content accordingly.
• Deliver excellent content and experiences. There’s no substitute for outstanding content. Audiences seek high quality, engaging, unique experiences, so media leaders must invest in content that rises above that of competitors.

The post Technology innovations drive 2024 media trends appeared first on Digital Content Next.

User interest and algorithmic recommendations

The dynamic interplay between user feedback and algorithm-driven recommendations shapes the social media platform experience. However, this cycle is insufficient on many platforms regarding news consumption. A platform must also maintain a repository of trustworthy journalism. Achieving this necessitates news providers sharing their coverage on the platform. On many platforms, this can be as straightforward as sharing a hyperlink. Yet, it represents a more substantial commitment to a multimedia-oriented and entertainment-focused platform like TikTok.

Further, TikTok lacks explicit distinctions and prioritization of news content. News exposure on TikTok is rooted in the interplay between user intents, platform responsiveness, and the availability of news content. Researchers Nick Hagar and Nicholas Diakopoulos explore how users interact with news producers and news-related topics on TikTok.

To assess TikTok’s algorithmic behavior, the researchers adopted a multifaceted approach. First, they examined recommended accounts, starting with four prominent U.S. news organizations’ TikTok accounts. They collected a dataset of 10,000 recommended accounts by scaping multiple layers of suggested accounts to follow. They also simulated the personalized “For You Page” experience on TikTok using 60 programmed bots designed to detect and decide whether to watch or skip videos based on their overlap with the day’s New York Times headlines. These bots had varying levels of news interest and collectively viewed over 6,500 videos. Additionally, the researchers gathered daily trending hashtags for a week and analyzed metrics for more than 100 U.S. news accounts.

Limited user interest in news

The findings reveal a considerable lack of user interest in news coverage on TikTok. However, whether or not this disinterest in news stems from users or the platform’s limited efforts to promote news is unclear. TikTok’s “For You Page” algorithm rarely presents news content, even with user engagement signals (18% of recommendations and 6% of traffic).

Two possibilities arise from these results. Firstly, there may not be enough active news producers on TikTok to saturate account recommendations. Secondly, the recommendation algorithm might struggle to recognize news producers as a distinct cluster of accounts, hindering its ability to suggest them effectively. Among the appearing news accounts, PBS News is the most frequent, representing diverse news producers, including TikTok accounts from newspapers like @latimes, individual journalists like @itsrachelscott, and news commentators like @briantylercohen.

Identifying challenges

TikTok’s rise as a dominant social media platform has introduced unique challenges for news consumption. The research’s examination of algorithmic news exposure on TikTok reveals a significant lack of proactive news distribution on the platform. Users are primarily exposed to entertainment content, trending news topics tend to lean towards entertainment, and news producers receive limited engagement.

To ensure broader access to journalism on TikTok, explicit platform interventions, such as labeling credible news outlets, elevating relevant news coverage, or giving journalism prominent placement, may be necessary. Balancing user preferences and facilitating incidental news exposure is challenging, but it is essential for fostering a well-informed and engaged citizenry in the digital age.

TikTok’s algorithmic indifference towards news content and limited user interest pose challenges for news consumption on the platform. Explicit interventions on the platform are needed to promote credible journalism and ensure a well-informed citizen.

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Engaging existing subscribers with video

The centerpiece of the 150-year-old publication’s video strategy is Boston Globe Today. Just celebrating its six-month anniversary, the 30-minute show is broadcast five days a week at 5 p.m. on Globe.com, NESN 360, and NESN’s linear channel. (NESN is the New England Sports Network.) The show focuses on mostly news topics Monday through Thursday, and on Friday, they switch to sports. Rather than just reporting the news, Boston Globe Today focuses on taking a closer look at the news, often from a journalist’s perspective. Host Segun Oduolowu talks to Globe journalists about their stories, sometimes even telling the story behind them. 

“We know our readers watch television… but they weren’t doing it with us because we are traditionally a words-driven platform,” says Peggy Byrd, Chief Marketing Officer at The Boston Globe. The priority for this team is to engage current subscribers by meeting them where they are, no matter the channel. 

“Conceptually, it was coming from who we are rather than what’s out there,” says Michelle Micone, Vice President, Innovation & Strategic Initiatives at The Boston Globe. Over a year in the making, The Globe hired a television producer and other industry pros to help bring this vision to life and ensure its quality is up to readers’ expectations. The TV team is constantly conversing with the newsroom, keeping an eye on interesting stories coming up and deciding which ones will translate well to the television format.

Boston Globe Today is available online for subscribers. However, a segment from each episode is available to all site visitors — potentially giving them a reason to subscribe. “We built this in segments as well as a full show,” says Micone. This allows viewers to engage with the content they are most interested in. Not only does this let audiences use their time wisely, but it also gives The Globe team an idea of what people are most interested in, which allows them to create an even better product moving forward.

While new subscribers are always nice, engagement of existing, loyal readers comes first. Byrd says the goal is to “expand a habit” and that the team wants to “expand the expectation and the experience and give people a new way of consuming.” 

So far, Byrd says they are seeing traction when it comes to engaging existing subscribers, and they have just started to measure conversion for new subscribers.

Reaching audiences wherever they consume video

Giving your audience what it wants is always critical to building loyalty and retention, but no publication can grow without new audience members. As Byrd says, younger audiences and people of color “over-index” when it comes to video consumption, so The Globe knows that video is an essential part of finding those subscribers.

Having The Boston Globe Today available to NESN subscribers is part of that strategy. However, TikTok is also always a part of the conversation whenever publishers talk about engaging younger, more diverse audiences. 

From topics to geographies to channels, The Globe tries to serve its broad audience in several ways. As Micone puts it, “We do feel like we have to do it all, and these are the ways we’re trying to service everyone in a modern way.” On TikTok, that means creating content specifically for the audience in ways that feel authentic to the platform. 

“We’re definitely committed to video for the long term,” says Micone. “Part of the reason for even starting this conversation with the TV show is to become an organization that’s very skilled at video.”

Strategic approach to audience growth

YouTube has played a slightly different role at The Boston Globe and its many brands. It’s primarily been a marketing tool, which Byrd says provides valuable feedback, allowing the team to take the data they collect into its content rollout on YouTube. “This is a long road we’re on,” Micone adds. “The TV show, YouTube, TikTok, all these pieces are part of it.” 

However, engaging younger audiences isn’t all about TikTok and video. The B-Side is an “email and social forward product,” according to Micone, the idea for which came from a Globe employee during the company’s biannual innovation weeks. After some massaging of the idea, the B-Side emerged, which the website describes as “a hyperlocal email- and social-only daily newsletter that provides authentic and relatable news to keep readers up-to-date and in the groove on local happenings in and around Boston.”

Up next, The Globe team is turning to SMS to expand the publication’s reach. As many mobile marketers know, getting users to opt-in is the biggest hurdle to messaging users on their phones. It’s “another way to meet people where they are,” says Byrd, and as is typical of The Globe’s methodical approach, “we’re taking our time with it.” It will be more of a marketing tool in its first iteration, eventually moving to the content distribution part of this puzzle. “The point of SMS is to learn what people want to get,” says Byrd, “and then once we discover what they want we can start to give it to them through their phones.”

Staying true to their New England roots, The Boston Globe team will continue to prioritize experience over theories as it experiments and innovates with ways to reach and serve audiences old and new. 

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Journalists are often the target of online harassment. In many cases, these attacks specifically target African American, Latino, LGBTQ, Arab-American, Muslim, and Jewish reporters. As journalists face more online harassment, newsrooms are setting social policies to support and protect journalists from increasingly intense online abuse. But many journalists report concerns about social media’s policy development process in the newsroom.   

Kaitlyn Miller and Jacob Nelson’s research, ”Dark Participation” Without Representation: A Structural Approach to Journalism’s Social Media Crisis, looks at how newsrooms can adjust their values and practices regarding social media. The authors focused on women and journalists of color because these two cohorts experience the most hostility online.

And, while both groups face the highest risks, they have little control in setting social policies. Newsroom managers developing social media policies tend to be predominantly older, white men who are less active on social platforms.

Methodology and findings

Miller and Nelson interviewed 37 U.S. journalists. The interviews included 22 women and 18 journalists of color. By exploring the relationship between newsroom management and the journalists’ own experiences on social media, three key themes emerged:

• Problems with newsroom social media policies.
• Adjust policies through better representation within newsroom leadership.
• Positive impact with better representation.

Newsroom demographics

Journalism lags behind the national averages regarding the representation of diverse employees. A 2018 Pew Research Center noted that 77% of newsroom employees and reporters (editors, photographers, and videographers, in broadcasting and internet publishing industries) are non-Hispanic whites, compared with 65% of the U.S. Population. Further, among newsroom employees 30 and older, two-thirds are male, compared to slightly more than half of all U.S. workers.  

Disconnect

Given the demographic composition of the newsroom, there is a disconnect between journalists who are active on social media and those setting social policy. Many social media policies often limit journalists’ comments because of concerns of bias.

Interviewees explain that anti-bias social media policies set by management often have a narrower lens and view social practices of demographically diverse journalists as biased. For example, some newsroom managers view the statement “black lives matter” as political and biased. Among younger and more diverse journalists, this statement mostly asserts equality.

Interviewees report feeling isolated when targeted with hateful comments because of their racial background. While some claim management is sympathetic, they report that those in leadership roles have limited empathy to understand the situation. Social media policies are also criticized because the policies for lacking depth in terms of protecting both the organization and the individual journalists.

Recommendation and positive change

Most interviewees suggest that younger and more demographically diverse journalists, especially those active on social media, should be included in developing newsroom social media policies. This starts with hiring more demographically diverse journalists in roles across the newsroom, especially in leadership positions.

Journalists with different roles and backgrounds working together allow for new conversations and offer more applicable social media policies, including to:

• protect both organizations and journalists,
• identify how to respond to social media harassment against their journalists; and
• offer a more equitable response plan to accusations of bias against journalists on social media.

Miller and Nelsen conclude that “better representation in newsroom leadership hinges on a larger structural shift in newsroom culture that values representation, equity, and inclusion not just as a journalistic value, but as an organizational value.”

Increasing the diversity of newsroom journalists can reshape newsroom culture and allow organizations to better address mistreatment on social media. It also offers a stronger and more empathetic support system. it sends a message to journalists that they are not only important enough to be included in the decision-making, but a priority and asset worth protecting.

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