A question for you: which would you believe, given the option? A popular newspaper, or a piece of news that you see on tiktok? If you are not a tiktok addict, then probably the newspaper, right?

Social media is one of the biggest phenomenons of 21 century. It has the power to brainwash us, as well as enlighten us.

News spreads so fast on social media because it can pop up on anyone’s feed—you don’t even need to be looking for it.

It’s short, easy to consume, and right there when you need it. A celebrity breakup? Boom, you get a notification and instantly know. A highway accident causing a huge traffic jam? You’ll hear about it before anyone else.

It is safe to say that there is no European country left where newspapers are a profitable economic sector. Digital evolution is completely reforming the traditional way people used to get news. In France, for example, the last free newspaper, 20 Minutes, stopped its printed edition the summer of 2024.

So if social media is so convenient, why does traditional journalism, as we know it, still exist? Let’s think about what it can offer, and social media cannot.

First, it provides broader and more in-depth information. Second, it’s more reliable—facts are checked, and not just anyone can post. This helps prevent misinformation from spreading as easily.

Not only that, but there are less sensasionalism in traditional media. Critical thinking is encouraged, not controversial content that maximizes entertainment.

You can never tell a whole story in a 30 seconds TikTok video. Social media should is used to spark a debate, raise awareness, and encourage people to explore the topic further, not to provide full context.

The most important thing keeping journalism alive is the existence of digital newspapers. It’s hard to keep up the paper versions, as the world of information naturally gets more digital. Online newspapers provide the same information as print editions but are free and easily accessible.

Plus, they’re designed for phone screens, making it easier for readers with shorter attention spans to consume the news.

Printed circulation figures are no longer a reliable way of measuring the reach of newspapers due to the rise in readers accessing news via aforementioned digital platforms. It is clear that many newspapers are successfully growing their audiences online.

Some statistics: a market report produced in London in 2016 illustrated that reader habits are changing with the digital audiences of many newspapers now larger than print audiences.

75 percent of adults read newspapers online every month and digital platforms boost a newspaper’s print readership by an average of 38 percent. 

So how can journalists keep the newspapers alive and avoid a complete social media takeover in the future?

If print newspapers had exclusive, well-written content, more people would buy them for “fear of missing out.” Newspapers need to gain more love by being unique. Exciting. Unpredictable. And by having different content than social media.

AP style might be very refined, but in my opinion it’s not the best option in the long run. Overly professional language can be what is stopping people from reading. Journalists should strike a balance between being professional and engaging.

By doing that, we can avoid a complete social media takeover of news outlets, and create an atmosphere where traditional new outlets and social media can coexist.

Text: Beata Staikūnaitė, photo: Afif Ramdhasuma / Unsplash