A MINUTE’S INFLUENCE

10.28.20 | COVER 13 W W W hile scrolling through TikTok, senior Matthew Bridges said he noticed a change the case for only myself, but a lot of younger people’s political ideologies have been swayed because of TikTok.” Along with Bridges, senior Declan said. “It is important to have a view and have an opinion on what you believe, but you have to be careful on what you say, what you post and what information you get it from.” in the content on his “For You” Franey said he uses his social media Although TikTok is well liked by page. Instead of the entertaining as a political outlet many teens, Bridges videos his feed was normally filled and information said his parents with, the content began to revolve source. [Gen Z is] not aren’t particularly around the death of George Floyd, Bridges said. This abrupt change in videos sparked his interest to Due to his mother being a reporter, Franey afraid to voice their opinions which fans of the app. “They are not fans of TikTok only further research political issues, he said he was taught again goes all the because TikTok said. Having been raised by conservative parents, but never to always see both sides of an issue. Recently however, way back to that engagement, has been the sole platform that has influenced my having a view on politics, Bridges Franey said he has and that’s exactly political ideology,” said that TikTok influenced him to form a political opinion of his own. become more vocal on his social media what we need. Bridges said. “I honestly don’t

“My parents are conservative, platforms. -KEN THOMAS think that they’re but TikTok influenced my political “I’m choosing accepting of my opinion to to post political content instead of political opinion, which I’m OK with be more just posting things about myself or because at the end of the day, it’s liberal,” things that mean less to America,” my choice and my parents still love Bridges said. Franey said. “Even if it doesn’t me.” In contrast change anyone, I’m still building Despite not being the biggest to Bridges, a platform that’s standing on fan of TikTok, Bridges’s mother, senior Corey important ideas.” Deborah Bridges, said social media McCready said With the election only a few days can be a good starting point for a he is a Donald away, Franey said it is crucial for news source. Trump supporter teens who are able to vote to have a “It is a good place to start to and believes that well rounded understanding of the learn about different things that TikTok is a more political state of the world. have come out, but then I think you conservative platform. “It’s good that people are starting “I’m a big Donald Trump to get more into [politics] and really fan, and I support everything trying to develop their own ideas,” that he does,” McCready said. Franey said. “I feel like people have “TikTok is a big Donald Trump stepped up and started to learn supporting app, I feel like. When more. As long as you are not just I see Joe Biden posting things to posts on there, promote yourself, it is everyone attacking him.” Due to the It’s good that people are starting and you are actually educating yourself.” Along with Franey, rapid spread to get more into McCready agreed of information through social media, younger [politics] and really trying to develop that students should vocalize their political beliefs on generations are their own ideas. social media, but given the ability to make sure what to be immersed in -DECLAN FRANEY they are posting is the political scene accurate. and have a voice of their own. “It’s important for kids to voice

“I would say social media has had their opinions on social media, an impact on Gen Z. I would safely but they have to watch what they Senior Matthew Bridges loads TikTok say that there are more liberal Gen say because if they say something while registering to vote for the first Z’s than there are conservative for wrong, they can’t take it back time. Bridges said his political beliefs sure,” Bridges said. “I know it’s not because it’s out there,” McCready have been influenced by TikTok.

have to double check it yourself and make sure it is accurate,” Deborah said. “Anything that is on social media is meant to sway [your opinion] one way or another.”

Due to the monthly rumors of TikTok being shut down, many users are suspicious that the motives behind the banning are for the wrong political reasons.

“I’m not necessarily saying that Trump is banning TikTok so that liberal news isn’t being spread, but I feel like there’s definitely people who believe that if Trump were to take down TikTok, their political voice would be silenced only because it’s such a big platform now,” Bridges said.

Although many teens use TikTok as a news platform, government teacher Ken Thomas said social media isn’t the best source and keeps us in a bubble.

“I hate to say this, but we want to take the easy way out and we want to be in an echo chamber that we believe only what we want to believe, and social media reinforces that,” Thomas said. “For decades, study after study show that people that are the most informed, most knowledgeable, even today, are people that read newspapers.”

Not just relating to social media, Thomas said to not get information from just one source or event, such as the presidential debates in October.

“Please do not decide by watching the debate [alone],” Thomas said. “A lot of the undecided voters just threw up their hands, quit watching and said ‘That’s it, I’m not even going to vote’ because that’s the feeling that you got from watching that debate the other day, so my advice would be to look at multiple sources.”

Even though Thomas doesn’t think social media is the best news source, he said the younger generation’s participation in politics is what the country needs.

“I think folks under 30 years of age are much more willing, and very set in their belief systems, when they see hypocrisy, they call it out,” Thomas said. “They’re not afraid to voice their opinions which again goes all the way back to that

Bridges scrolls through TikTok on his phone. Bridges said TikTok has changed the perspectives of many young voters during this election. “TikTok has completely influenced my political opinion,” Bridges said. engagement, and that’s exactly what we need.”

Due to this awareness, Thomas said younger generations have the ability to make a difference in the current state of the country.

“It’s folks your age and the millennials that want to change things for the better because they’ve got 50, 60, 70, 80 years of life for God’s sakes,” Thomas said. “They’re going to be affected by this stuff, so I really am proud of the young people, the way they are engaged and their willingness to say, ‘Hey, you know, that’s just not right.’”