Summarised by Centrist
As traditional media struggles to regain public trust, social media influencers are stepping into the role of news providers.
With 20% of Americans now getting their news from influencers, this emerging trend sparks debate about authenticity, accountability, and whether influencers should be trained like traditional journalists.
Summer Harlow of UT Austin’s Knight Center highlights how influencers like V Spehar, creator of UnderTheDeskNews, have redefined news delivery by fostering personal connections and transparency. Spehar, whose TikTok platform has over 3 million followers, argues, “Every day, I have to earn my audience’s trust…making one mistake affects credibility, just like in traditional journalism.”
Harlow and Spehar acknowledge the tensions between legacy media and “newsfluencers”.
Critics often view influencers as “line skippers,” but Harlow asserts that influencers’ ability to connect with communities mirrors journalism’s original purpose: “holding power accountable and serving the public.”
The rise of “newsfluencers” has also amplified debates about misinformation. While social media accelerates the spread of false information, Harlow cautions against holding influencers to stricter standards than traditional outlets, as both face challenges in maintaining accuracy.
As influencers gain access to high-profile events like national conventions, their role as news providers grows, yet bias against platforms like TikTok persists.
Spehar calls for collaboration between influencers and legacy media, suggesting that their strengths could complement each other. “If we work together, more people can hear the stories that matter,” they conclude.
