HLN’s TikTok account, with the username ‘@hln_be’, reached the milestone of 300,000 followers yesterday. This impressive achievement comes just six months after the popular account crossed the 200,000 follower mark.
It’s Jonas Lips (24), our dedicated TikTok man, who brings news every day specially tailored to teenagers. Recently the channel has a second face Desna Lespinoy (27), who produces news clips during the weekend and replaces Jonas during holiday periods.
TikTok continues to grow in popularity among youth and adults. Currently, no fewer than 3.5 million Belgians over the age of 18 are active on the app. Teenagers in particular are the largest group represented, with no less than 87 percent of them having an account on the app. “HLN wants to be where people expect it, for the widest possible audience, including young people,” says face Jonas Lips.
prof. dr. Ike Picone, senior lecturer in Media and Journalistic Studies at the VUB, said this in response to the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2023. “Young people are more often interested in more constructive, positive and solution-oriented news. Other international research also shows that young people are more looking for news that fits their own world and is useful for their own development, which they may find less in the traditional media,” he says. “In addition, young people use social media as their main source of news and make a less clear distinction between hard news and news from their own social network.”
21 million likes
The content of the news clips on HLN TikTok are very diverse. “On the one hand, we bring ‘breaking news’, that is news that is everywhere, on the radio, TV, in the newspaper. On the other hand, we bring news that is in line with the world of young people. For a change from the violent news stories. For example, think of news about inspiring figures they look up to, updates about popular YouTubers, new rules in the education system, and much more. Young people ask questions about current affairs in comments under our videos, which we often use as inspiration for new videos,” says Lips.
The news clips have garnered nearly 21 million likes to date. Due to its growing popularity, Lips has recently been strengthened by Desna Lespinoy (27). Desna produces newsreels on weekends and fills in for Lips during holiday periods. “News, of course, never stops. We are lucky that our audience is incredibly curious and active. That is why we think it is important to be there for them during the weekend as well. So that we can make news around the clock,” says Lespinoy.
Lips also confirms that some teenagers only consume their news via Instagram and TikTok. “Many young people do not feel attracted to traditional media. They often watch the news, but usually find it too long and boring. Then we are mainly there as a voice to substantiate a story and tell difficult stories simply. We work very audiovisually.” The news videos are catching on, HLN on TikTok reaches between 100,000 and 1 million people every day.
If we look at the most popular TikToks in the year 2023, it is striking that very different topics are discussed.
1. What is a hoax? Following a viral TikTok trend: “The Serbian dancing lady” – 2.2 million views.
2. ACID vs. Giant Gum – 1.1 million views.
3. Girl of 8 receives heavy blows from man (21) in Borgerhout – 1.1 million views.
4. Mafia boss escapes from maximum security prison with knotted lankens. – 1.1 million views.
5. Student eats famous artwork ‘banana’. – 1 million views.
6. Woman injured after a ride on a Mega Mindy jet ski in Plopsaland De Panne. – 1 million views.
7. Cat disrupts Ramadan prayer in Algeria mosque. 950,000 views.
8. Father Sanda Dia speaks on the last day of the trial in Antwerp. – 905,000 views.
9. OH Leuven player Sofian Kiyine flies into the sports hall by car. – 902,000 views.
10. 4-year-old girl hospitalized after being assaulted by two toddlers. – 850,000 views.
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and don’t miss a thing of the stars.