TikTok Launches Local News Feed
TikTok has launched a new Local Feed, a move that positions the platform as a curator of community news. The feature arrives at a time when the local news industry is facing significant challenges. The launch raises questions about the reliability of algorithmically selected local stories and the potential impact on traditional local publishers.
- The move comes as the local news industry faces a severe downturn, with the U.S. having lost nearly 3,500 newspapers since 2005 and more than two-thirds of its newspaper journalists. This has led to the growth of "news deserts," with over half of U.S. counties having limited access to reliable local news sources. - TikTok's feed is algorithmically curated, which raises concerns about the creation of "filter bubbles" and "echo chambers," where users are only shown content that reinforces their existing beliefs. This contrasts with the traditional editorial judgment of newsrooms, which prioritizes civic relevance over engagement metrics. - For Gen Z, social media is a primary source of news, with 42.9% getting their news daily from these platforms and TikTok being the most popular. However, there's a growing skepticism, with two-thirds of Gen Z news consumers questioning the accuracy of stories they see. - The feature relies on precise, opt-in GPS data to surface content, which includes not only news but also information about local events, restaurants, and businesses. This positions TikTok as a direct competitor to platforms like Google Maps and Yelp for local discovery. - While many local newsrooms have been slow to adopt the platform, some have found success by experimenting with short-form video. For example, *The Nevada Independent* has effectively reached local audiences by breaking down complex state legislative stories into digestible clips. - Another innovative approach comes from Arizona State University's *Cronkite News*, which challenged itself to produce 65 TikToks in 30 days. Their key learnings included immediately getting to the story without traditional intros and connecting local news to viral trends. - The introduction of the Local Feed could further disintermediate the institutions that fund in-depth reporting, as attention may shift to individual creators who summarize news without bearing the costs of original journalism. - Previous attempts by platforms like Facebook to prioritize local news in their algorithms have had mixed results. A major change in 2018 to the News Feed algorithm, intended to prioritize posts from friends and family, caused a varied decline in referral traffic for nonprofit news organizations.
