Sorting Through News on TikTok
Fake news is something that has been associated with the media for years. With the increased use of social media and the rise of new platforms such as TikTok, it has become difficult to decipher what is true and what is not.
However, one congressman has gone viral for the opposite.
Jeff Jackson is the congressman from North Carolina’s 14th congressional district and is known for posting TikTok videos explaining different current political issues in a way that the average lay-person can understand.
Jackson’s most recent post has been his most popular, amassing 25.8 million views and 3.9 million likes with those numbers still climbing. He sat down in front of his camera on March 13 in a zip-up hoodie and a t-shirt at 2 a.m. to explain the recent bank failure — the second largest in American history.
Thousands of users flooded the comments section showing their support for his conversational yet thorough description of the issues.
For example, @dennisb040 commented: “Why can’t we get this kind of clarity from other representatives in our government? Thank you very much sir, I appreciate you.”
His videos have reached audiences outside of the U.S. borders as well.
User @profbeerbelly commented on the video about the bank crisis saying, “Sir, I am not an American but watching your clear explanations about U.S. political systems/issues are amazing.”
Jackson’s passion for spreading political awareness transcends congressional rules. The TikTok app was banned from devices managed by the House of Representatives, but Jackson has the app on a separate phone solely used for posting news uploads to his account.
In an interview with the Daily Beast, he told them, “...there aren’t a whole lot of people who are using their platform just to level with folks about where things stand with respect to an issue in Congress.”
The time that Jackson takes to update his account on congressional conversation is greatly appreciated by his 1.4 million followers.
Gaining political knowledge from Jackson puts viewers at ease. They don’t have to question whether or not their source is credible and providing accurate information; he comes right from the heart of America’s lawmaking body. His basic word usage and casual demeanor allow users to feel as though they are having a conversation with Jackson at the kitchen table.
To hear more of Jackson, follow him on TikTok @jeffjacksonnc.