With The Times

The rise of user-generated content and instant news sharing has transformed how stories are constructed and distributed, emphasizing visual storytelling as a powerful tool for engagement. With Instagram and TikTok being considered the leading platforms, the future of journalism is increasingly visual, demanding new skills and approaches from storytellers. 

As social media platforms dominate the information landscape, traditional journalism faces unexpected challenges and opportunities for improvement. This shift changes how news is consumed and challenges journalists to adapt, innovate and connect with audiences in an ever-evolving digital world. As journalism evolves in delivering news to the public, the rapid growth of technology and social media over the past 20-30 years is reshaping the industry. 

The dangers of misinformation are becoming increasingly clear as social media expands into the modern day. Visual journalism heavily relies on this medium, which caters to audiences with short attention spans and high social media activity. Consequently, it becomes challenging for the general public to trust journalists.

The social media business model, driven by algorithms prioritizing engagement over accuracy, undermines visual journalism by incentivizing sensationalism and clickbait, often distorting or oversimplifying complex stories for mass appeal.

The impact of these marketing tactics is increased violence, particularly in the form of heightened political extremism and an increase in hate crimes. A 2022 poll by the Pearson Institute and AP-NORC found that 73% of people believe misinformation fuels extreme political views, while 77% link it to an increase in hate crimes, including those driven by race, gender, or religion.

The study also notes that 91% of adults consider the widespread dissemination of misinformation an ongoing issue, with 94% of journalists agreeing in 2024. A New York Times survey of 400 teenagers found that misinformation is more prevalent on social media, with real news often being overshadowed by “quickly digestible headlines.”

To cite a few examples: in 2018, Facebook acknowledged that its platform was used to incite violence in Myanmar, admitting that it failed to prevent the spread of harmful content that contributed to the crisis. After the 2020 election, a defamation lawsuit was filed by Dominion Voting Systems against Fox News, where the network faces accusations of spreading false claims following election results. Accusing Fox News of deliberately broadcasting false information that harmed Dominion’s reputation, the network agreed to pay $800 million to settle the lawsuit and avoid the trial.

CBS News explores the rise of “fake news” on social media, examining how misinformation spreads rapidly online and the damaging impact it has on public trust, truth, and democracy. As Steven Brill, journalist and author, said, “If the algorithm gives it steam, that could be seen by millions of people.”

A recent Pew Research study revealed that 54% of U.S. adults “at least sometimes” obtain news from social media. As visual storytelling on social media becomes increasingly prevalent, it’s crucial to understand the business model behind these platforms to avoid falling victim to misinformation.

In today’s digital age, where the flow of information is tightly regulated, journalists often face challenges in finding opportunities to adopt innovative news distribution strategies. As reliance on radio and print diminishes, a Pew Research Center study found that 58% of people prefer digital devices for news, 32% turn to television, and only 6% rely on radio and 4% on print. 

Digital device software has consistently advanced since the mid-20th century, and with this advancement, so has the news industry. News consumption is closely tied to the psychological tactics used by social media, where platforms leverage notifications, algorithm-driven content, and instant gratification to keep users engaged and constantly returning for more.

In The Social Dilemma documentary on Netflix, former employees of various social networks explain the foundation of business models in digital marketing, which includes prioritizing engagement through manipulation and influence. 

In the film, Tristan Harris, a former design ethicist at Google and co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology, offers insight into the inner workings of Google’s platform and its business model, particularly in relation to the intentional design of social media.

“We’re training and conditioning a whole new generation of people that when we are uncomfortable or lonely or uncertain or afraid, we have a digital pacifier for ourselves that is kind of atrophying our own ability to deal with that,” Harris said.

In the documentary, Harris explores the impact of social media on society, focusing on its influence on communication and the growing dependence on online tools. Daniel Wright, a film co-producer, shares his insights into the algorithm-driven discussions about social media’s impact on large communities.

“We had to come up with more creative ways to tell the story…to have a story to show what is happening behind our screens and how it is affecting us every day,” Wright notes. Reflecting on the process of bringing The Social Dilemma to Netflix, Wright discusses the deeply ingrained social culture that emerged during the first wave of COVID-19 in 2020.

A study by the National Library of Medicine revealed a substantial surge in social media usage, approximately 20%, indicating the overpowering impact of the pandemic on our digital habits. 

“A lot of people were stuck at home, stuck on their phones, so the film really struck a chord in terms of the audience. Everyone could relate to what we were talking about,” Wright said. 

While the film first premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, Wright notes within the first month of the documentary’s premiere on Netflix, the film received nearly 40 million views. 

NBC News describes the business model of social network companies as “particularly risky” for younger generations, who are “more sensitive to distractions.” Social media engagement is designed to rewire the brain, making users reliant on constant notifications, which increases distractions and encourages more frequent use. 

According to Dr. Gloria Mark, a professor of informatics at the University of California, Irvine, and author of Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness, and Productivity, the average focus time for individuals viewing a single screen has dropped from 2.5 minutes in 2004 to just 47 seconds in 2021.

“Everyone is feeling these pressures from our phones, trying to keep us engaged, but at the same time, we feel more anxious, doing more self-comparison… Our attention is much more limited,” Wright adds.

The American Psychological Association (APA) notes that people are more likely to spread misinformation when frequently exposed to it. While common media sources can spread misinformation, research indicates that the primary factors contributing to “fake news” often have psychological origins, usually linked to individuals’ identities or social norms.

Social media has long been acknowledged for its significant psychological effects, both positive and negative. NBC News examined these impacts, citing an APA study that revealed more than 50% of teens reported experiencing at least one symptom of clinical dependency on social media. 

By promoting instant gratification and constant stimulation, the use of platforms like TikTok contributes to poor mental health in younger generations. Research proves platforms with this specified business model  exacerbate anxiety and depression while fostering shorter attention spans.

However, Axios identifies TikTok as the leading social media platform for news delivery, emphasizing the rising popularity of condensed video content. An Associated Press article highlights the significant influence of video-based news content on social media. It specifically cites a study by Kapwing, which found that nearly 70% of consumers are likely to share videos on social media. 

In addition to fostering long-term dependence on technology, misinformation on social media about public health issues contributes to widespread paranoia. The World Health Organization (WHO) has found that misinterpretations of health crises can harm mental health, increase vaccine hesitancy, and delay access to necessary healthcare.

During a health crisis, the WHO published guidelines on combating misinformation about major health issues like COVID-19. The article highlights the WHO’s authority to flag misinformation and its use of rapid reporting systems, which help further prevent the spread of false information. Sometimes, the organization advises increasing awareness of false information and reporting it when appropriate. 

The debate over social media censorship and news interpretation raises concerns about free speech and misinformation. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, White House officials urged Facebook to censor “humor and satire,” but Zuckerberg argued this would restrict free speech, despite the content fueling widespread vaccine paranoia.

Ultimately, Meta decided to restrict certain types of content, though Zuckerberg, as reported by CNBC, asserted that “government pressure was wrong.” Following this decision, an estimated 20 million posts were effectively removed across Facebook and Instagram for violating the platform’s content policies.

Although the issue of misinformation is unlikely to be fully resolved, social media companies have become more stringent in their fact-checking efforts to reduce the spread of false information, all while maintaining adherence to free speech rights. 

This emphasis on free speech has led many to argue that social media has created a new, innovative model for visual journalism. As print news continues to decline, digital news has flourished, prompting a New York Times article to ask: can the concept of “news” survive in a digital world? First, it’s essential to consider the average attention span in the context of news consumption on digital platforms.

As traditional news consumption methods decline, digital platforms represent a powerful, modern tool for distributing news. Although social media offers the potential to transform how people consume information, it should be used with caution as these platforms shape the future of news consumption in an evolving landscape.