As you are scrolling through the delightful and sometimes disturbing world of the Tik-Tok algorithm, you may come across a smart, sassy lady laying on the floor under her desk giving you a quick rundown of the day’s news.  If you haven’t followed “Under The Desk News ” run by “V” (Vitus) Spehar who produces the classic Tik Tok short videos of news media content, I suggest you scroll over there today! With 2.1 million followers currently, of which I am one, Under The Desk News has become one of the most trusted sources of information across the platform. And this is not without good reason. The content is about 60 seconds long, and provides a refreshingly short, to the point, approach to our daily intake of news. But even with this short time frame, Vitus keeps the news feeling genuine and conversational. 

This account has created an opportunity for individuals intimidated by large news outlets, to still understand the world around them. 

One way this is shown is by the type of setting the Vitus chose to record these videos in, (literally under her desk!) and the calm manner of her personality.  With this common comfort zone she provides an inviting environment for viewers. Even with all of this effort, the news continues to feel overwhelming to many. To combat this, “V” as the creator refers to herself as, has put in place “Banana Shirt Good News Only” segments in her content. These videos are put in place to share the positives that we can find in the news throughout the week. 

Another huge thing I believe that “V” does very effectively is addressing, and keeping her bias in check. As many large, corporate news outlets such as Fox News and CNN have struggled with in recent times.  She recognizes that we all have our opinions and must face our individual bias. “V” is very intentional and open when she stops reporting the news and adds her own thoughts and ideas.

I believe this channel is doing amazing things for our generation. By presenting news in a peaceful, intelligent, approachable manner, as we guide a new generation of curious groups of critical thinkers into understanding the world. This approach to difficult topics shows a great clarity in these trying times. You should check out @underthedesknews on TikTok, as this channel is a breath of fresh air.