Student Content Creators - Algorithmic Pressure From TikTok & YouTube

CALL FOR SOURCES | STUDENT CONTENT CREATORS & ALGORITHMIC PRESSURE FROM TIKTOK AND YOUTUBE Are YouTube and Tiktok boosting creators views in their lowest moments? For an upcoming investigative feature for the NCTJ Excellence Awards, I am looking to speak with student content creators about how platform recommendation algorithms interact with personal mental health or highly emotional videos on TikTok and YouTube. Many creators report a frustrating cycle: when they post a raw, vulnerable video during a tough period at university, the algorithm rewards it with thousands of views. But when they try to heal and post normal, happier content, their reach suddenly plummets, leaving them with an unspoken pressure to "stay sad” online just to maintain an audience or cover tuition. Backed by recent social science research from the University of Iowa regarding algorithmic grievance loops, this piece shifts the lens away from viral luck and onto the algorithms of big tech social media platforms. Your privacy is my absolute priority. In accordance with ethics and IPSO guidance on sensitive health disclosures, all case studies can be fully anonymized with pseudonyms to protect your personal and professional future. **How to reach out:** > Want to get involved or want more information? Drop me a DM here or email me directly at [email redacted] for a totally informal, no-pressure chat. Even if you just want to ask a few questions first, my inbox is open. #journalism #investigativejournalism #mentalhealth #universitylife #contentcreator