By Riley Moore
Getting news in today’s modern world is somehow more turbulent than ever, with global powerhouses going to war at the drop of a hat, pedophilic files being released by government agencies, and more shocking news every day. More than ever before, civilians have unlimited access to news right at the tip of their fingers through their cell phones, yet we seem more misinformed than ever.
Younger generations are constantly in an information-overload space, where headlines and fake news are flying at us from all angles – so it’s up to us to figure out how to consume news in easier, digestible ways. There are, however, some people who feel such a heightened sense of information overload that their brain starts to check out when it comes to consuming news.
According to Jang, a digital platforms and technology expert, the public has such distrust in journalists and news sources that people become bored and exhausted by never ending information. Jang notes that “news fatigue can become a problem when it turns into what is known as news avoidance. News avoidance means that the user, due to being tired from the flow of news, avoids it altogether and thus may not access the information they need, which may be essential to their daily life and health.”
Not only is it nearly impossible for society to find true news, but we also live in a time with shorter and shorter attention spans. So, we have three major dilemmas here when it comes to people consuming news: people not trusting journalists, news avoidance, and terrible attention spans. Enter short-form content creators (mainly TikTok) that deliver the news at breaking time and have hooks that keep us civilians updated on hot topics.
Creator ‘Jamal from On My Block’ has been a news source for younger people who still want to be updated but aren’t sure how to filter through information. His real name is EJ, and he hooks the audience in with his signature “breaking f**ing news” with an audio hook in the background – either a guitar riff or drum sounds. His videos are simple and to the point. He starts with the hook, tells the information straight to the camera, and then turns his camera around to show his news sources pulled up on a laptop.
While he has been an active updates account for a while, his content has skyrocketed with the USA and Israel – Iran War. His content is easy to consume and easy to believe, because he shows several sources and how he has come to his own conclusions. Just within the past day, he has posted 19 videos related to the US-Iran war, all with different headlines and topics that he is covering. He delves into topics like how the stock market is being affected, how other countries are responding to the war, local updates in Iran, how civilians will be affected, and even more.
Jamal has surpassed 280,000 followers (and steadily rising), and under almost every one of his videos, you’ll find comments saying “you’re for real my new sources right now” or “ur the only news source i trust” or some variation of the same beliefs. More than this, being easily consumed content, it gives users the space to comment on their beliefs, interact with others, and have a space to feel included in such turbulent times.
‘Jamal from On My Block’ is just one account of many that is following this similar style of delivering news through short-form content. ‘Silentmiddlechild’ is another account that has been heavily following and updating on the US-Iran war. His name is Anthony, and he currently has 730,000 followers on TikTok, as of March 9, 2026. Anthony’s content is much different because he uploads one video about every two days with broader topics on the war. This is obviously very different from the first account mentioned, which is uploading niche news stories almost instantly.
These accounts are just a few examples of the many short-form news content creators that are out on social media, which I believe to be very truthful and helpful to people trying to get a grasp on everything as it’s happening. With today’s world, it’s virtually impossible to stay updated on news constantly – but creators like the ones mentioned (and more) help people understand and want to be informed.
In today’s world, where it seems like misinformation and news fatigue spreads like wildfire, being properly informed is one of the most important and rebellious things that we civilians can do. So, I implore readers to find a creator that speaks to you and can help you stay informed in the mess and wake of global events.
