TikTok, true crime, and the truth: how social media is reshaping news

A clear generational divide is emerging in news consumption. Older adults still rely on TV and newspapers, while younger people get updates from social media, watching TikTok explainers, and getting breaking news notifications on their phones. This shift isn’t just technological, it’s reshaping how stories spread and who controls the narrative.

A 2024 Ofcom report shows a significant shift in how UK adults get their news. While an overwhelming 96% still consume news, traditional platforms are losing popularity. TV news viewing which was once considered the dominant platform has seen a notable decline, from 75% in 2023 to 70% in 2024. The traditional newspaper, including digital versions, has also fallen significantly since 2023. This clearly points to a continued move away from conventional news sources.

Younger generations are leading the shift to social media as a primary news source. Nearly 90% (88%) of 16-24-year-olds use online sources, with Instagram (41%), YouTube (37%), Facebook (35%), TikTok (33%), and X (27%) being their top platforms.

The pull of social media news

Convenience

Younger generations often come across news passively while scrolling through social media, often shared posts from news publishers, friends and other users, or even stories and advertisements suggested by algorithms. It’s a “low-effort” approach that holds significant appeal, offering a convenient way for them to stay informed.

Accessibility

Online news is instantly available and constantly updated, making it far more convenient than print media in the modern era. Users can access breaking national and global news with a click of a button instead of waiting for the next day’s newspaper.

Diversity

Online platforms offer greater diversity in news sources and perspectives than traditional media, allowing users to explore a wide range of topics and alternative viewpoints. This is a stark contrast to offline sources like TV where audiences are limited with choice over the topics presented.

Younger people (16–24 year olds) access a broader variety of news sources than older adults. While 85% of over-55s still rely on TV, over half (54%) also get news online, mainly through direct website visits (28%) rather than social media.

Personalisation

People increasingly prefer personalised news that aligns with their interests, avoiding irrelevant stories. Younger audiences especially appreciate how social media lets them curate feeds from friends, journalists, and commentators they follow. TikTok’s ‘For You Page’ is a prime example of this as it delivers tailored content without the user actively searching for it.

The rise of citizen journalists and online investigations

Citizen journalism

Citizen journalists document events as they happen. For example, live tweeting court cases or filming incidents and the aftermath as it happens in real time. They help provide eyewitness accounts and help fill the gaps that traditional media usually leaves out.

The main driver of citizen journalism is civic engagement, holding power accountable and covering stories mainstream media often overlook.

Internet sleuths and online forums

Online amateur detective communities or “Internet sleuths” have existed since the late 1990s, using websites like Websleuths.com as an early platform for discussing and helping solve cold cases.

Today, this trend continues on Reddit, particularly in the “Reddit Bureau of Investigation” (RBI), a subreddit launched in 2012 with 802k members dedicated to solving crimes and mysteries collaboratively.

These spaces popularise the “armchair detective”, a term used for someone who investigates crimes using secondhand information by encouraging active case analysis and theory sharing.

The true crime catalyst

The rise of true crime content across platforms like Netflix, ITV, BBC, Youtube, TikTok, and podcasts have surged in recent years, with many now featuring dedicated “True Crime” categories.

A key turning point in the genre’s modern popularity was the 2015 Netflix docu-series Making a Murderer, which sparked public debate and online discussion. This inspired widespread engagement and helped fuel “armchair detective” behaviour.

This genre has raised audience expectations for in-depth storytelling, closer examination of evidence, and questions about flaws in the system, rather than just surface-level reporting.

Independent creators

The rise of citizen journalism and true crime has boosted independent creators on YouTube, TikTok, and podcasts. They gather, analyse, and present information clearly, often building on reports from citizen journalists, revisiting cold cases, or breaking down current events to make complex stories more accessible and engaging.

YouTube channels like Rotten Mango, which started as a true crime podcast and now cover cases like the P. Diddy trial, show how independent creators provide deeper analysis than traditional news. With more time and flexibility, true crime podcasts and creators explore complex stories in greater detail and keep audiences better informed than mainstream outlets.

Independent creators can produce high-quality content with just a smartphone and an internet connection, unlike traditional media’s large teams and equipment. This accessibility allows more voices to share detailed, engaging stories without needing major resources.

How algorithms and short-form content shape news consumption

Algorithms

Social media algorithms are designed to keep users engaged by showing them content tailored to their interests, behaviours, and connections, resulting in highly personalised feeds. This system works especially well for niche topics like true crime or regional cold cases.

When a user watches one true crime video, the algorithm quickly recommends similar content from independent creators or related discussions. This helps build a dedicated audience faster than traditional media ever could. By bypassing traditional gatekeepers, algorithms connect creators directly with people who are most likely to engage with their stories.

Short-form content

Short-form videos are powerful for hooking audiences into deeper investigative stories, drawing viewers toward longer-form content. For ongoing investigations or breaking news, short videos allow creators and citizen journalists to share quick, viral updates.

Many true crime creators use multi-part series on platforms like TikTok, releasing short clips as teasers that drive viewers to full videos on YouTube or podcasts. By releasing content in chapters, creators build suspense, keep audiences engaged, and boost visibility through algorithms.

Incidental exposure

News consumption on social media is often incidental. People often stumble upon news on social media while scrolling for entertainment, not because they’re actively searching for it. This makes platforms like TikTok effective at spreading niche content. When a true crime video is engaging it can quickly go viral through shares, likes, and algorithm boosts.

Community building

Online communities like Reddit’s RBI act as a virtual “war room” where users collaborate to analyse information, share theories, and crowdsource investigations. This supports the citizen sleuth model. People comment, debate, and add their own ideas on true crime cases or events, creating a feedback loop that drives more content. Independent creators build direct trust and community with their audience, which often outperforms traditional news outlets.

The downsides of decentralised news

Unlike traditional news outlets, many citizen journalists and creators share information without verification, in a rush to share content that can often spread rumours or false information. Decentralised platforms make it easy for both accidental misinformation and deliberate disinformation to spread, confusing audiences.

A 2024 UNESCO study found 62% of digital creators don’t check facts before sharing, and 33.5% share content without trusting the source. Ofcom’s 2022 report shows people find online news less reliable than traditional media, especially those who trust mainstream sources.

Teens aged 12 to 15 generally find traditional news sources much more trustworthy than online ones. 77% of those who get news from TV and 76% from radio say these sources provide reliable news, while only 45% feel the same about news from social media.

Algorithms personalise content to match users’ interests, supporting niche topics but creating echo chambers or “filter bubbles” that reinforce biases, limit diverse views, and increase social polarisation. They also favour emotionally charged content, like fear or outrage, which drives users toward extreme narratives and benefiting creators who focus on such content.

The future of news consumption

News consumption is clearly shifting, especially among younger generations moving from traditional media to social platforms. This shift is driven by convenience, personalisation, and instant access, making news part of daily digital life.

Citizen journalists, internet sleuths, and independent creators now reach wide audiences with engaging storytelling through short-form content and algorithms. This decentralised model offers diverse perspectives and faster sharing but also raises issues of reliability, echo chambers, polarisation, and trust.

Both platforms and users share responsibility. Platforms need to make algorithms more transparent and fair, while users need stronger media literacy to critically evaluate information they receive.