News

• Oguntoye Esther
• 4 Min Read

📰 "Is News Still News? How The Definition Of Truth Has Changed In The Digital Age"

In a world flooded with information, the line between facts, opinions, and algorithms is becoming harder to see. The news used to be about delivering the truth. Now, it often feels like a race for attention.

What happens when the news becomes entertainment? And how do we stay informed in a world where every headline fights for a click?

Introduction: The Collapse of Certainty

Once upon a time, the news was the gatekeeper of truth.

People tuned in at 9 PM, read the morning paper, and trusted the anchor behind the desk. News was a trusted institution. But in 2025, that trust is fractured—and in many ways, beyond repair.

Today, we live in a world where:

Opinions trend faster than facts

Algorithms curate your worldview

Influencers are the new journalists

Speed matters more than accuracy

The result? A crisis not just of information, but of meaning. The question isn’t just “what’s happening?”

It’s: can I believe what I see?

Let’s unpack why news has changed, what it means for society, and how we can navigate this new reality.

1. From Informing to Performing: News as Entertainment

News used to be about delivering verified information.

Now, it's about retention, reaction, and reach.

Headlines are crafted like clickbait. Anchors perform emotion. Outrage drives traffic. And stories are often packaged to fit viral formats rather than factual depth.

Social media hasn’t just disrupted traditional media—it’s trained us to expect entertainment from everything, even serious events. The result? Tragedies, wars, politics, and social issues are sometimes consumed the same way as gossip and celebrity drama.

📍Key insight: The news cycle now competes for attention, not authority. That changes everything.

2. The Algorithm Decides What You Know

In the age of information overload, we don’t choose what we see—the algorithm does.

TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter (now X), and even Google curate your newsfeed based on your:

Past clicks

Watch time

Political leanings

Location

Emotion-driven engagement

This creates filter bubbles where we only see what aligns with our beliefs, making it harder to consider opposing perspectives—or even recognize that other views exist.

And worse: algorithms often amplify emotionally charged, controversial, or false information—because it gets more engagement.

📍Key insight: Your “news” might not be the news. It might just be your version of it.

3. Newsfluencers & Opinion Leaders: Who Do We Trust Now?

In 2025, trust in legacy media is at an all-time low.

So people have turned to something that feels more “real”: individual voices.

From YouTube commentators to Substack writers, Twitter spaces to podcast hosts—“newsfluencers” are now shaping public opinion.

This isn’t all bad. Many are doing meaningful, independent journalism.

But here’s the challenge: they aren’t bound by the ethics, fact-checking, or accountability of traditional newsrooms. And most of them build audiences by telling people what they want to hear, not what they need to hear.

📍Key insight: When trust shifts from institutions to individuals, bias becomes branding.

4. Speed Over Truth: The Race to Be First

The internet never sleeps. And neither do newsrooms.

In this 24/7 cycle, there’s immense pressure to break news fast—even if it’s not fully verified.

Headlines go out. Tweets go viral. Stories explode.

And if the facts turn out wrong?

Oops. Apologies are buried. Retractions don’t trend.

The damage is already done.

This leads to a culture where misinformation often travels faster and farther than the truth.

📍Key insight: The first version of a story is often the least accurate—but the most remembered.

5. The Rise of AI News: Helpful or Harmful?

With the rise of AI tools, news is now written, summarized, and distributed by algorithms. In some ways, this has made it faster and more accessible. But it’s also made it easier for:

Fake news to spread

Deepfakes to deceive

Auto-generated articles to mimic real sources

And the scariest part? Some people can’t tell the difference.

📍Key insight: If everyone can generate “news,” how do we know what’s real

6. So… Is There a Way Forward?

Yes—but it requires effort.

We can’t afford to be passive consumers anymore. In 2025, staying informed is an active practice, not a passive scroll.

Here are 5 habits to build:

✅ 1. Diversify your sources

Follow outlets across the spectrum. Compare how different platforms report the same event.

✅ 2. Pause before sharing

Ask: Is this from a reliable source? Is it current? Is it emotionally manipulative?

✅ 3. Read beyond the headline

Headlines are often misleading by design. Always click through and read the full context.

✅ 4. Follow journalists, not just media outlets

Trust the people doing the reporting—not just the brands posting it.

✅ 5. Educate others

Talk to your circle about media literacy. The more aware we are, the stronger our collective defense.

Final Thoughts: Truth Still Matters

The landscape has changed, yes.

But truth still matters. Journalism still matters.

And those who seek it—with open minds and critical thinking—can still find it.

In the end, the real crisis isn’t just about news.

It’s about trust, attention, and responsibility.

And as consumers of information, we have more power—and more responsibility—than ever before.