Sydney's Media Law & Literacy Blog: February 2026

Thursday, February 5, 2026

My Top 5 News Sources

1. TIKTOK

After Covid-19 and the events of 2020 TikTok has become a huge source of news. It has become an extremely influential piece of my generation Z and I have fallen guilty of using it as a primary source of news. TikTok uses an algorithm that creates a "For You Page" completely adherent to recent searches, likes, and videos you've interacted with. With that algorithm comes news placed right in front of me that is incredibly geographically accurate as well as skewed to my interests. I am able to hear about hot topics through my favorite social media influencers and other perspectives I wouldn't get to see on official news cites.

2. INSTAGRAM

Like TikTok, Instagram has become a prevalent source of news because of its convenience and how personalized it is. The platform's algorithms curates content based on my interests, so I'm more likely to see news stories that are relevant to my life or directly connected to issues i care about. As I scroll through friend's and family's posts, news about current events pops up in between, making it easy to stay informed about events without seeking out traditional news sources. This blend of personal content and news makes Instagram a more accessible way to keep up with what’s happening in the world.

3. GOOGLE NEWS

Google News is another quick and easy way to find news. I use it occasionally when looking for specific headlines and current events. I use Google News when looking for more official and credible news that is not always found through social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. I would recommend Google News because it offers many different websites and sources of information for the plethora for news stories.

4. NBC

NBC is one of my more credible sources for news and used mostly at home with my parents. My parents are constantly playing the news in our living room when not watching other shows or sports. I occasionally watch the news with my parents and gain a lot of insight on whats going on in the world around me. NBC and similar news channels are probably some of the best places to find news because it is in real time as well as factual and credible.

5. FAMILY & FRIENDS

A lot of my news comes from what I hear through friends and family. My family especially makes an effort to keep me updated on what's going on because I'm away at college and don't watch the news as regularly as I probably should. They often share important stories or talk about current events in conversation, which helps me stay informed even when I’m busy with school and daily responsibilities. I would recommend to stay in touch with friends and family about news because it offers multiple perspectives and possibly news from different areas.

THE FUTURE OF YOUR WORK

We are living in a word where Artificial Intelligence is rapidly growing and reshaping how we connect online. After watching "The Future of Work" and analyzing how AI will affect social media and digital communication I see a lot of big opportunities as well as many questions ahead.

1. AI Speeds Up Busy Work!

With the new growth of AI such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini, drafting, organizing, and analyzing information. This means professionals in my field will spend less time on busy repetitive tasks and more time on creativity strategy and brand imaging.

2. AI Will Change Skill Requirements

For social media jobs, it will now be a requirement to understand AI tools and be able to use them to the company's benefit. I read that the World Economic Forum says skills like analytical thinking and being comfortable with technology are growing fast. Instead of criticizing AI, social media professionals need to know how they can use it to their benefit.

3. Algorithms are controlled by AI

In social media algorithms decide what goes viral, so social media professionals have to try and think like AI would. If you want a career in AI, you need to start understanding AI-driven algorithms to shape trends.

4. Misinformation is a HUGE problem

AI is getting smarter and smarter by the second. It can create fake images, fake videos, fake voices etc… That can be scary, but in the social media field credibility is everything! So, part of the job is not just creating content, but protecting audiences from AI-generated misinformation.

About Me

My name is Sydney Allen from Lawrenceville, New Jersey. I am a sophomore at High Point University majoring in Social Media and Digital Communication. I am also a student ambassador and a member of the HPU dance team.

In high school I was able to give back to my community through service opportunities and coordinating donation efforts to support causes like breast cancer and domestic violence awareness. I have also love to dance and have been competitively dancing since I was five years old and was given the opportunity to assistant teach at my home studio. I choose to continue my passion for dance at High Point University to hopefully make an impact on my community and do what I love. I strongly value community, authenticity, and collaboration. I am currently working as a HPU student ambassador and have thoroughly enjoyed connecting with potential students as well as my fellow ambassadors.

After graduation I hope to work in social media advertising and marketing for a large corporation. I have a strong interest in sports and would love to purse a job in that industry. I have recently sparked an interest in graphic design as well which could sway my plans for the future. I am excited to finish off these last two years of school while continuing to learn from my peers and mentors and exploring new passions and job opportunities.