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Journalists are no longer the gatekeepers. The reality is that many young people are now bypassing the websites and apps of traditional news outlets and seeking information on social media platforms, including TikTok. It’s the ‘fastest growing social network’, according to the Reuters Institute Digital News Report, and new research has found that 20% of 18-24 year olds use the app solely to find their news. While a massive 44% of that age group use the short-form video hosting service for any and every other purpose. The younger generation have “little interest in many conventional news offers oriented towards older generations’ habits, interests, values, and instead embrace the more personality-based, participatory, and personalised options offered by social media”, said Reuters Institute director Rasmus Nielsen. Under 18s are big users too, so for parents whose teens get their news via TikTok, what do you need to understand about the social network and the evolution of digital media literacy? What is TikTok? Every so often a new app emerges and redefines the way we use social media. It’s what TikTok went and did in 2016. Starting as a small niche social media network – founded by Chinese tech giant Zhang Yiming – that attracted lip-synching teens as a short-form video hosting site, it almost knocked Facebook off its perch, and blew up during the coronavirus pandemic to a mega global platform. Do news organisations share news on it? Yes, they do. In many ways, traditional news organisations were forced to join TikTok to avoid being left behind, reach new and younger audiences and ensure they are continuing to find creative ways to pivot in a constantly evolving digital space. “Given the popularity and high engagement level, it’s not surprising that TikTok has become an important news platform for younger audiences, and it makes sense that news organisations are using it,” said Mark Brill, a senior lecturer in Future Media at Birmingham City University. “This, however, is a continuation of an existing trend. For well over a decade social media such as Facebook has been the primary news source for under 25s.” Anna Lee, founder at the Fr. App, added: “We can see that Gen Z individuals are turning to TikTok for any and all searches. While the funniest sound bites and newest dance trends will always have a home on TikTok, you can also equally expect to find videos explaining an arbitrary housing act.” How is it shared? There are various types of videos that can be shared on TikTok. Alongside the short bite-sized videos sharing the latest news, you can share trending sounds, things creators have posted, or videos with friends, family, and your larger community within TikTok or through other social media platforms. Videos can also be shared directly to other users, as long as the user has allowed for it. How do algorithms work? The TikTok algorithm is a recommendation system that determines which videos will appear on your (unique and highly personalised) For You page, which is also known as the homepage. Brill, who has 25 years of experience applying emerging technologies to engage audiences, said: “Much of the success of TikTok is the way that their algorithm decides which videos to show their users. TikTok’s system is based entirely on their interests and previous viewing. “This ‘more of what you like’ approach means that users spend more time each month in TikTok than any other platform. In the UK it adds up to over 27 hours per user per month and 23 hours globally. It shows how the platform’s algorithm can be highly addictive.” Is it OK that TikTok is how young people learn about what’s happening in the world? Some experts believe it is important for young people to be taught digital literacy at an increasingly earlier age – especially with the prevalence of fake news and artificial intelligence and its ability to forge fake articles and pictures. “Users of TikTok and all other social media apps must understand how to evaluate every piece of information they come across,” Lee said. “All parents worry about their child viewing harmful content on the internet. However, most leading internet providers provide extensive parental controls, including blocking and filtering unsuitable content.” Should they be encouraged to look elsewhere? For Brill, there are both benefits and challenges from using social media as a news source. He also cites the recent Reuters Institute report, which noted that TikTok users tend to look for good-news stories, avoiding the ‘doom scrolling’ found in web-based internet sites, which can have a negative impact on mental health. “The big question with social media sources, however, is that of veracity. A lack of fact checking and or acknowledgment of authoritative sources makes it difficult to identify fake stories and information. The short-form video format does not bring an in-depth analysis, where opinions are often presented as fact,” he said. “Perhaps the biggest challenge for TikTok users is with the algorithm itself. By giving more of what they like, it leads to confirmation bias that reinforces existing perceptions.” While child and behavioural expert Amanda Jenner, would encourage parents to tell their children to look elsewhere. “I am not a believer in directing children to learn through TikTok at all. Children can easily become addicted to social media and [it] can quickly escalate and [they could] be looking at other things they shouldn’t be watching. “I genuinely do feel parents need to be worried. I would encourage parents to set an age where it’s acceptable to have TikTok (over the age of 13 preferably) and have a parental control app so you can monitor and control what both they are seeing and the amount of time they spend on [it]. They need to be safeguarded.” Who knows what social network will be the next big thing but right now it’s difficult to get young people to migrate to another platform. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live How to take care of pets in the heat Struggling with menopause symptoms in the heat? An expert shares tips Men and women with migraine both have increased risk of stroke – study

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Telly gardener Daisy Payne has given fans a giggle with a tongue-in-cheek post during a visit to a farm – saying she prefers a “wild bush”. The 26-year-old, who is This Morning’s resident flower expert, was at Belvoir elderflower plant to muck in with the harvesting of this year’s crop and deliver it from ‘bush to bar’ within 24 hours. Afterwards, Daisy uploaded a video of herself looking summery in a flowing dress, with a cheeky little note for her 21,900 followers. “A wild bush is always the best,” she captioned the post, sharing it alongside a clip of herself chatting to Pev Manners, managing director at Belvoir. The cheeky TV guest helps him pick some elderflower, before declaring “I’ve got a bit more bush here” and then wanders off, basket in hand – while Pev belts out ‘Singing In The Rain’. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Social media users have been left in stitches at the funny moment – and Daisy’s cheeky caption, with many people poking fun at Pev. “Pev loves a bit of bush,” said Rupert. “Yep. Sounds like Pev to me..,” added Lawrence. “This is too cute, I can’t cope!,” said Stacey, to which Daisy replied ‘Isn’t it! Legendary Pev!”. “Love it,” said someone else. “Fantastic.. we’ve been collecting them too xx,” said another person. [sic] Taking on the ‘bush to bottle 24-hour challenge’, Daisy teamed up with local pickers in a bid to make the refreshing elderflower favourite drinks from start to finish – and deliver it directly to supermarkets and bars within the set timeframe. She said: “I was delighted to be part of this wonderful harvest. “I’m a huge fan of elderflower cordial and it was great to find out more about these fantastic flowers, which are both cultivated but also grow wonderfully wild in the hedgerows. “It was wonderful meeting the local community around Belvoir Farm, who had come out to help us all pick and then transform this wonderful bounty of nature into the delicious drink we all know and love. “It’s really a unique experience. “Not only can the pickers earn some extra cash with their endeavours, it’s a fantastic way to enjoy nature, and really understand the process of bush to bottle.” Pev added: “It's great to take Daisy out of her garden into the wonderful Vale of Belvoir countryside and we’re delighted to say our annual harvest is still going strong, and it was great fun working with Daisy to welcome her into the wonderful wild organic fields at Belvoir Farm. “It really has given this year’s harvest a brilliant start.” With a crucial six-week blooming season from late May to the end of June, flowers are picked from the farm’s 60-acre organic plantation and the surrounding hedgerows. It is the only type of harvest in the UK that relies on the community to help, and people from the surrounding five counties come back year after year to collect flowers and bring them to the company’s headquarters. Daisy also went behind the scenes to find out more about the brand’s Elderflower Cordial; charting its bush to bottle journey and award-winning recipe that’s now shipped worldwide to over 40 markets. Taking up the challenge to pick, infuse and blend the flowers with trademark sugar, lemon and spring water that go onto create its signature delicious flavour, Daisy then bottled, boxed and delivered the bottles for customers to enjoy. Belvoir Farm was established in in 1984 by Pev’s parents, John and Mary Manners. The Elderflower Cordial is still made to his mum’s original family recipe – with over 30 delicious premium soft drinks also now part of the brand. He said: “I’ve been picking elderflowers since I was a young boy, when my mother started making elderflower cordial on our kitchen table to her own original recipe. “The wonder of our cordial is the fantastic taste, which is developed as the freshly-picked flowers gently infuse for 24 hours to be turned into a rich and fragrant cordial, whose recipe has remained the same for nearly 40 years. “This year’s ‘bush to bottle’ challenge will demonstrate the speed at which we can deliver the freshest tasting Elderflower Cordial, transforming these beautifully fragrant flowers into our delicious drinks, straight off the production line and into the hands our consumers. “Without compromising on our ingredients, the quality or the great taste our customers love.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

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Mum-of-four rakes in the cash on OnlyFans by sexting and sending sexy snaps during the school run A time-strapped single mum-of-four says the key to her six-figure success is sexting on the school run. Whether she’s in the carpool line or watching her kids play sports, Holly Jane spends all day sending saucy messages, pictures and videos to her fans and “doesn’t care” who is looking over her shoulder. The mum-of-four left her recruitment job in 2021 after signing up to OnlyFans, making more than her annual salary in just three months. Now the 39-year-old makes an average of £40,000 ($50,000 USD) a month working from her mobile phone on the go. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter “To everyone on the school run I look like a normal mum wearing yoga pants and texting but what they don’t know is that I am flirting with men all over the world for big money,” Holly, who has 186,000 followers on Instagram (@therealhollyj) told NudePR.com ”I can make over $800 before lunchtime, just for being online at the right time. Just one friend knows what I do for a living. Most of my friends and family still think I work in healthcare recruitment. “My family can get suspicious – my dad in particular says I don’t seem to spend much time talking on the phone for being a recruiter. Little do they know I have increased my income times 10 and now I can be present at home for my kids.” Holly, who is from California, US, is the sole provider for her family since her husband, Stephen, tragically died after an accident in 2017, aged just 31. She used to earn an above average $100,000 salary in her old career, which included medical insurance – but says she hated being “chained to a desk”. The model said: ”Sitting at a desk all day felt like imprisonment. Physically being at my job for eight hours with a lunch break was restrictive and frustrating to me as a busy mum with lots of plates to juggle. “I felt held back and childcare is so expensive that I didn’t have much money left over for fun. I used to joke to coworkers that I needed to find an income through flirting because I’ve always been that sensual person who likes to make sexy jokes and tease. ”My colleagues would laugh but I was serious. Then when OnlyFans came along I felt like I’d won the lottery, my prayers were answered.” Holly Jane set up her OnlyFans account in August 2021 and by October she had quit her job to focus on content creation. She said: “People think you just make videos and pictures to share, and that’s it but now I average around 80 hours a week, I’m constantly on my phone working. ”If my kids aren’t looking I’ll be sexting. It’s that simple. If I’m at a ball game or in the line at the store the people behind me will get an eye-full if they look at my screen. It’s addictive making these lucrative connections with people in the palm of my hand.” But the 24/7 sexting has nearly landed Holly in hot water a few times. She said: “I do a lot of my bikini photoshoots in public and I have to change outfits quickly so I’m always flashing in the park. ”I worry someone could call the cops but they haven’t so far. Mostly people just love to watch and stare. Especially the lawn workers at the park – they aren’t subtle about it but they love the show.” One embarrassing moment came at Holly’s son’s football practice. While she was watching from the crowd she was also working from two mobile phones. She said: “I tried to airdrop myself some pictures of me with my legs spread and posing but I accidentally selected ‘send to all’. “Any parent with their airdrop turned on would have received those images. “But no one said anything. I think they felt lucky to get a freebie.” Even with her impressive monthly income, Holly Jane says she lives a conservative lifestyle and still lives in the same house she bought before her success with her four kids, who are aged 20, 14, nine and three [not named for privacy reasons]. She added: “I still drive a 2006 Lexus and my lifestyle looks the same except that I buy the more expensive designer mom leggings for the school run. ”I save most of my money to build a future for myself and my family. I want to invest in real estate and create a passive income and money for retirement that way.” ”But I do love spending money on my kids. I pay for private tutoring for my kids at $1,000 a month, I have a nanny for my youngest and we love to go on vacations. ”We’ve been on five vacations in the past two months including Arizona, San Diego and at this exclusive coastal town that I love called Encinitas. “The weather is always perfect, it’s a millionaire town so I love to splash out there and make amazing content in a holiday home. “It’s such a luxury. ”But the most important thing for me is being independent and providing a life for my children with everything they need. “It’s so motivating for me to know I can afford to give them a good life and fix their problems. “Money helps me to feel like I’m keeping us all safe and it’s given me my life and flexibility back.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.