Gen Z — From Breaking News to Breaking Down News — On Reels

Gen Z — From Breaking News to Breaking Down News — On Reels

(Written by a Gen Z in first person)

We didn’t grow up watching the 9PM news. We grew up scrolling.
 For many of us, Reels on Instagram (and Shorts on YouTube) have quietly replaced the news apps our parents still swear by. It’s not about avoiding the news — it’s about finding it in formats that feel human, relevant, and actually make sense.
 This isn’t just a shift in platforms — it’s a whole new way of understanding the world. And slowly, these platforms became something else — my newsroom. And I’m not the only one.

A global stat I saw recently said one of the Top reasons Gen Z uses TikTok is to stay updated on the news. Not for trends. Not even entertainment. News.

And honestly? It tracks.

We’re not watching TV news or flipping through newspapers. We want context, not just headlines. Relevance, not noise. And short-form video gives us that — fast, visual, human.

Even traditional news outlets in India are catching on. Firstpost, India Today, and others now post quick-hit Reels that try to keep up with how we consume news today.

Among individuals, @fayedsouza stands out — an established journalist who’s brought her credibility into the Instagram era with timely, clear updates that feel calm and grounded. It’s news, minus the drama.

Then there’s @theindianidiot, who delivers no-fluff world updates that you can absorb in under 30 seconds. Exactly the kind of smart, bite-sized content that fits into our scroll.

For deeper dives, YouTube is where I go. Dhruv Rathee brings research-backed videos that explain the “why,” not just the “what.” Nitish Rajput turns complex topics into stories that stick.

And sure, TikTok isn’t available in India anymore, but globally, creators like @underthedesknews (V Spehar) and @kelseykaplanmedia show just how effective short-form news can be — clear, emotional, and relatable.

The real reason all of this works? We trust creators more than institutions. We grew up online, built our filters early, and now we know how to cross-check, question, and look deeper.

It’s not that we don’t care about news — we just want it delivered in a way that respects how we live.
 We don’t just want headlines. We want storylines.
 And Reels give us both.