Rob Chapman

TikTok: The bridge between broadcasters and Gen Z?

Twist and Pulse, winners of Britain's Got Talent: The Champions (Credit: ITV/Syco/Thames)

“There’s a huge opportunity for news broadcasters to tell the softer or more interesting stories through the platform – also [stories] that aren’t necessarily so time relevant. That’s basically what our audience want,” said Edward Lindeman, TikTok’s European strategy manager.

“I don't really want to go on the platform and hear about [Brexit] – but I am interested in learning new things and discovering content.”

How TV can compete for the eyes of Gen Z

Rob Chapman, Amber Gill, Caspar Lee, Timothy Armoo and Paul Bojarski (Credit: RTS/Richard Kendal)

Video-sharing platform TikTok was the word on everyone’s lips leaving the second session, “Exploring Gen Z”. Many had not heard of the Chinese-owned social media sensation, but were keen to find out more in order to reach the elusive next generation of viewers. Many market researchers describe Generation Z as those born after 1997.

Defined by session chair Rob Chapman as the generation “for whom 9/11 wasn’t a coming of age event”, Gen Z were instead shaped by the recession of the last decade.