Breaking News?

After reading this article, I stopped to think about how much I, and others just like me, have made social media my primary source of information. Artemis II was not the only news story I kept up with over the last week. I heard lots about Dan Levy’s new show, Big Mistakes, Rory McIlroy’s repeat win at the Master’s, and the new baby elephant at National zoo. 

It is becoming clearer that the way we consume news is changing, and significantly so. What used to come solely from journalists is now frequently obtained from influencers, the algorithm, and whatever is trending online. A recent BBC article points out that social media has emerged as a primary news source in the U.S., especially among younger generations like me. Rather than tuning into the traditional news outlets, individuals are getting more and more of their news from short-form content, commentary from creators and highly curated feeds. 

I am aware of this shift from traditional news media all too well in my personal life. Nearly everything I watched and heard about Artemis II came from scrolling on TikTok and Instagram. I did not watch the takeoff on ABC, CBS, or NBC, nor did I keep up with the mission on any of those channels. Instead, I found myself consuming short clips throughout the 10-day journey on my socials, turning something literally out of this world into quick and easy-to-scroll-through content.