This story is part five of Word In Black’s Health Misinformation series, exploring the ways Black folks can identify false information and verify credible health sources. Read the series.
“We’re in our 20s, we want to do what’s cool, we’re hot,” says Kelsey Russell, a 23-year-old TikTok content creator. “This is the hottest, youngest, sexiest, and most fun time of your life.”Gen Z is the generation known to set boundaries around work, consume information on social media, and not take no for an answer. We are the generation who uses our voice to speak on injustice and mental health — despite societal consequences.But, as avid social media users, we are often the unsuspecting target of misinformation and disinformation. In the age of capitalism and chasing trends, it’s easy to get caught up in a perfect storm of misleading information. And the tired, old tale that Gen Z doesn’t consume traditional media certainly isn’t helping.