My Top 5 News Sources

TikTok

TikTok is a very popular platform that I use almost every day. While scrolling through videos in my free time, I see a lot of influencers and other creators posting about news. Whether it is political, environmental, celebrity drama, etc. Users can create these posts to show how they feel about a topic, how it affects us or others, and how it affects the Earth. 

The app creates algorithms so that users can learn more about a topic or the users interests at the moment. For example, I just binge watched a Netflix show that I became obsessed with and when I sent one video to my friend that I saw about the show that was on my "For You Page", every other video while I was scrolling was from the show. 

The other day I saw that a group of monks were making a peace protest by marching across the country, and people were going to see them. A lot of the posts about this march were creators expressing their feelings about how much we needed a sign that everything was going to be okay. Posts can come from around the world because TikTok is a worldwide app, therefore I see news globally and I am able to broaden my knowledge on what is occurring currently in other parts of the world. 

Instagram

Instagram is another social media platform that I use consistently to get news on. I typically do not follow a lot of influencers on Instagram, like I do on TikTok, however when scrolling through my feed, there are many suggested and "Breaking News" posts that show up. 

In one of my classes, I had to do a project on a controversial topic, but I wasn't sure which topic I was passionate about. When on Instagram later that day, I saw a post about mandated vaccines and how Florida was trying to end the mandate for specific vaccines, such as the one for COVID-19. I chose to do my project on that topic, which I hadn't previously known was a current issue. I have posts on my feed like this every day that help me gain knowledge on what is happening around the world. I also am able to get news about my friends and family. This is another worldwide platform that most people use to gain information, therefore I can see news from other countries as well.

ESPN

ESPN or Entertainment and Sports Programming Network is the news channel that I use when I want to keep up with sports. I'm normally always busy so it is rare when I'm able to sit down and watch a game. Growing up around sports, I'm a very competitive, passionate person about my favorite sports teams. 

On ESPN I am able to get updates and outcomes of Formula One races, Premier League soccer, and Football. This news channel is also worldwide, which is very helpful considering the Premier League soccer is located in England. I am also able to get news on the Olympics because they are always held in different places such as Greece, France, and the U.S. 

Facebook

Facebook is another popular social media site which tends to be mostly for the older age group. I first downloaded Facebook because my schedules for work used to be posted on it and I use it to see what my mom posts. Even though my work schedule is now posted on a different app, I still use Facebook to get news on family, friends and more local stories. A lot of my family uses the app, even my grandma and grandpa. I tend to find out information on them from their posts before they even tell me. 

My hometown, Kent Island, also has a joined page where anyone that lives there can post about what is happening around the island, their lost pets, car crashes, good food places, really anything. I don't post anything, but I go on the app a lot to see what's going on, especially while I'm at school, just so I know what's going on at home. I can also see if we have any events going on like garage sales, new stores opening, our homecoming parade, our fall fair, etc.

Fox News

Fox News is a news channel that I watch on tv. Being this is an actual news channel and not social media; there is more content that is a bit harsher than what is shown or said on social media. For instance, a lot of current topics include ICE, politics, war, murder, military, etc. I'm not very consistent at watching the news, I only really watch it at home and that's typically only in the morning when I first wake up and go downstairs. I do enjoy talking about the news sometimes because I remember a lot of harsher topics and it's always being updated to the latest news. 

One of the stories I recently watched was about more than 80,000 vehicles being recalled for not being loud enough to alert pedestrians. This is interesting to me because I've heard these vehicles before, like Tesla's and Kias, they all have this "angel-like" sound that is difficult to hear and a lot of people on campus own them.

By using these sources to get news, I am constantly updated on what is going on around the world or locally. I question what I learn, I talk about it with others, and I learn more about it.