Articles

A TikToker in Afghanistan vs. The new media influencers: Unpacking the controversy

By Osman Faruqi, Scott Mitchell,

Published on Sep 10, 2025   —   5 min read

MediaPodcasts
A TikTok travel influencer, two podcasts and one incredible case study in the new media ecosystem.

Summary

A TikTok travel influencer, two podcasts and one incredible case study in the new media ecosystem.

A note from Os and Scott:

Today we’re sharing an article by our researcher, Izzy Lewis. It’s about the challenges in the new, influencer-led media landscape and why the fundamental principles of journalism remain important — even as the industry more broadly struggles to retain trust with the public.

We’re covering this topic on Thursday’s podcast too, and we’ll be back on Friday with our regular newsletter.


A travel influencer controversy that highlights the blurred lines between journalism and commentary

By Izzy Lewis

What happens when one influencer accuses another of being financially supported by the Taliban? As outlandish as that sounds, it isn’t a hypothetical. It’s an issue that has raised some fascinating and important questions about the increasingly blurred lines between journalists and social media commentators.

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