With creator space becoming a dedicated platform for many to gain firsthand information, Varun Padmanabhan, Ria Nagpal, Aman Pandey, and Rasputin discuss the rise and growing impact of social media journalism.
What’s news? Is it about reporting on events happening around the world, or a way to educate us on how every aspect affects us as individuals? It’s all of that and more. Recently, however, the feeling of mistrust towards portals we’ve known and grown up with has deepened, especially regarding the accuracy of the news shared. This has only made us seek a more dedicated and resourceful space that not only informs us but also answers our questions, doubts, and speculations with detailed research. Surprisingly, the creator space, which has managed to hold its ground with its growing popularity and reach that still baffles many, has become a dedicated place for many to get their first-hand information.
Varun Padmanabhan and Ria Nagpal, who are partly responsible for people turning to the digital space for more detailed and well-researched news, agree. Part of this growing popularity, they believe, can be credited to the faster reach this space offers. According to Varun, people consuming news from social media rather than traditional media (other than the fact we're addicted to our screens) totally makes sense. The fact that social media makes news ‘interactive and accessible’ for the audience adds to this popularity. Ria believes that earlier, it was a one-way communication, almost delivered like a bulletin. “But now the audience is in the newsroom with you whenever you share a content piece; people share their own thoughts, debate, and even fact-check news in real time.”
We have often heard people say, ‘I read it somewhere’ or ‘according to a source’, confidently, as they share news that often ends up becoming a major piece of information. And more often than not, that source happens to be social media. Whether it is a long thread someone decided to share on X, or a video of someone breaking down the news and its subsequent reactions on Instagram Reels. Either way, as people who love bite-sized content, social media has become our most trusted news outlet. It’s easier for us to share a Reel, engage in comments to understand shared opinions, and ultimately develop our own ideas about the topic.
However, it also makes you wonder what factors lead to audiences trusting a creator’s commentary as much, or sometimes even more than, traditional news outlets! Aman Pandey, known for his satirical social commentary, points to the authenticity, consistency, and relatability of a creator as the key reasons. Rasputin aka Ankitemphasises this while noting how trust also comes from transparency that traditional outlets deliberately avoid. “We build direct relationships. The key difference is structural versus individual influence. While creators can be co-opted, mainstream media operates within systems where even anti-capitalist journalists must censor views to keep jobs. For creators, compromising principles for money is a personal choice that audiences can easily spot and criticize.”
As people continue to delve into significant stories, the online platforms that connect millions with just one click raise questions about the future of journalism. According to Aman, much of this future depends on how free the internet remains in the coming years. He cites the proposed broadcast bill and gag orders imposed by the courts, such as those related to the Adani and Dharmasthala controversies, as prime examples. Rasputin believes there will be a fundamental restructuring, where the traditional gatekeeping power of journalism continues to erode, which he sees as ultimately liberating. He argues that the future belongs to independent voices that are not beholden to corporate interests, leading to more authentic political discourse and class analysis.
Varun believes that certain pages and personalities will emerge as trusted news sources. He points to Sarthak Ahuja as a great example and suggests that media outlets might find it easier to transition into this space by hiring familiar faces to represent the perspectives they wish to share. Ria concludes by saying that she doesn’t see the challenges the quality of journalism is facing, challenges likely to change overnight, pointing out how commercial pressures will continue to shape what we see on mainstream news. “At the same time, creators are carving out a space for themselves, offering perspectives and stories that traditional outlets often overlook. For the foreseeable future, I see both coexisting, traditional journalism providing infrastructure and reach, while creators push the boundaries of storytelling and engagement.”
This article was first published in the Social Ketchup Magazine September 2025 edition.
For more such content, follow us @socialketchup
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Beyond newsrooms: The rise of social commentary as entertainment
With creator space becoming a dedicated platform for many to gain firsthand information, Varun Padmanabhan, Ria Nagpal, Aman Pandey, and Rasputin discuss the rise and growing impact of social media journalism.
What’s news? Is it about reporting on events happening around the world, or a way to educate us on how every aspect affects us as individuals? It’s all of that and more. Recently, however, the feeling of mistrust towards portals we’ve known and grown up with has deepened, especially regarding the accuracy of the news shared. This has only made us seek a more dedicated and resourceful space that not only informs us but also answers our questions, doubts, and speculations with detailed research. Surprisingly, the creator space, which has managed to hold its ground with its growing popularity and reach that still baffles many, has become a dedicated place for many to get their first-hand information.
Varun Padmanabhan and Ria Nagpal, who are partly responsible for people turning to the digital space for more detailed and well-researched news, agree. Part of this growing popularity, they believe, can be credited to the faster reach this space offers. According to Varun, people consuming news from social media rather than traditional media (other than the fact we're addicted to our screens) totally makes sense. The fact that social media makes news ‘interactive and accessible’ for the audience adds to this popularity. Ria believes that earlier, it was a one-way communication, almost delivered like a bulletin. “But now the audience is in the newsroom with you whenever you share a content piece; people share their own thoughts, debate, and even fact-check news in real time.”
We have often heard people say, ‘I read it somewhere’ or ‘according to a source’, confidently, as they share news that often ends up becoming a major piece of information. And more often than not, that source happens to be social media. Whether it is a long thread someone decided to share on X, or a video of someone breaking down the news and its subsequent reactions on Instagram Reels. Either way, as people who love bite-sized content, social media has become our most trusted news outlet. It’s easier for us to share a Reel, engage in comments to understand shared opinions, and ultimately develop our own ideas about the topic.
However, it also makes you wonder what factors lead to audiences trusting a creator’s commentary as much, or sometimes even more than, traditional news outlets! Aman Pandey, known for his satirical social commentary, points to the authenticity, consistency, and relatability of a creator as the key reasons. Rasputin aka Ankitemphasises this while noting how trust also comes from transparency that traditional outlets deliberately avoid. “We build direct relationships. The key difference is structural versus individual influence. While creators can be co-opted, mainstream media operates within systems where even anti-capitalist journalists must censor views to keep jobs. For creators, compromising principles for money is a personal choice that audiences can easily spot and criticize.”
As people continue to delve into significant stories, the online platforms that connect millions with just one click raise questions about the future of journalism. According to Aman, much of this future depends on how free the internet remains in the coming years. He cites the proposed broadcast bill and gag orders imposed by the courts, such as those related to the Adani and Dharmasthala controversies, as prime examples. Rasputin believes there will be a fundamental restructuring, where the traditional gatekeeping power of journalism continues to erode, which he sees as ultimately liberating. He argues that the future belongs to independent voices that are not beholden to corporate interests, leading to more authentic political discourse and class analysis.
Varun believes that certain pages and personalities will emerge as trusted news sources. He points to Sarthak Ahuja as a great example and suggests that media outlets might find it easier to transition into this space by hiring familiar faces to represent the perspectives they wish to share. Ria concludes by saying that she doesn’t see the challenges the quality of journalism is facing, challenges likely to change overnight, pointing out how commercial pressures will continue to shape what we see on mainstream news. “At the same time, creators are carving out a space for themselves, offering perspectives and stories that traditional outlets often overlook. For the foreseeable future, I see both coexisting, traditional journalism providing infrastructure and reach, while creators push the boundaries of storytelling and engagement.”
This article was first published in the Social Ketchup Magazine September 2025 edition.
For more such content, follow us @socialketchup