š° TikTok Rises as America's News Source
This week, weāre uncovering surprising truths that might make you rethink what you thought you knew:
š± 1 in 5 Americans now get news on TikTok ā see how habits are shifting fast
š§¬ First gene therapy success for Huntingtonās offers new hope for families
š¬ Neuroscience shows good talks do not need agreement
šÆ Data destroys the transgender mass shooter myth
One in Five Americans Now Regularly Turn to TikTok for News
A new survey by Pew Research Center reveals that 21% of U.S. adults say they now regularly get their news from TikTok, a dramatic increase from just 3% in 2020. The growth highlights how quickly the short-form video platform has become a mainstream source of information, especially among younger adults. Nearly half of adults under 30 report using TikTok for news, compared with only 7% of those aged 50 and older.
The study also shows that TikTokās news audience has become more diverse and balanced in terms of political alignment. While younger, left-leaning audiences were once the dominant users, the platform now attracts more Republicans and independents as well. The findings underscore the evolving media landscape, where traditional outlets are losing ground to social platforms.
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Gene Therapy Achieves First Successful Treatment for Huntingtonās Disease in Early Human Trial
For the first time, an experimental gene therapy has successfully treated Huntingtonās disease in a human clinical trial. Huntingtonās is a rare, inherited neurological disorder that gradually destroys brain cells, leading to loss of movement, thinking ability, and emotional regulation. There is currently no cure, and treatments have only managed symptoms rather than altering the diseaseās course.
The therapy, developed by researchers at UniQure and trialed in collaboration with academic partners, targets the genetic mutation responsible for the disease. In the early-stage study, participants showed significant reductions in harmful proteins associated with Huntingtonās progression. Researchers report that the treatment was not only effective but also safe and well tolerated, offering a potential new path for long-term management of the disease.
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Neuroscience Reveals That Meaningful Conversations Do Not Require Agreement
Neuroscience research shows that the value of conversation lies in listening and mutual understanding, not agreement. People feel most engaged when their perspectives are acknowledged, suggesting that empathy is more critical than consensus.
Key Points:
Friendsā brains start in sync, then divergeāand they enjoy conversations more.
Strangers who branch into disagreement rate their chats as more fun.
People seeking compromise (not persuasion) explore more topics and find better solutions.
Perfect brain synchrony sounds nice, but it leads to boring, safe conversations.
Brain scans reveal that engagement is strongest when participants feel heard.
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Data Destroys Transgender Mass Shooter Myth
Wild claims are flying that transgender folks are behind most mass shootings. Records from The Violence Prevention Project and other verified sources show that very few mass shooters have been transgender. The vast majority have been cisgender men.
Less than 0.1% of mass shootings since 2013 involved transgender perpetrators
Out of 201 documented cases, 97.5% were committed by cisgender men
Transgender people make up ~1% of population, so theyāre not overrepresented
This harmful myth scapegoats a vulnerable community. Grounding discussions in verified data supports healthier, more constructive debates about gun violence and reduces the spread of prejudice.
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